Departing Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata has revealed that he would have accepted a contract extension from the club, had such an offer been made.
Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin confirmed on Sunday that they had signed the 28-year-old, who will leave the Hoops after four years in Glasgow.
Speaking at Parkhead following Celtic’s final-day 2-1 victory over Hearts, Boyata told supporters that things could have turned out differently for him this season.
“I’ve been the mean guy and the bad guy but if people only know the truth that would be different,” Belgian international said, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“I spoke with the managers, if I was in a position to stay, if the team had agreed to what we wanted. Up until today, I still haven’t got what I wanted.”
OPINION
This is quite the reveal from Boyata. He has been a great servant for Celtic, making 135 appearances for the Hoops in four years and asserting himself as a mainstay in the team. But to speak to supporters directly and reveal this is quite something that will potentially anger a lot of Celtic fans. This season, Boyata has made 32 appearances, chipping in with one goal and three assists along the way. It looks as if the Belgian international was keen to stay, but himself and the club obviously had different opinions on his future at Parkhead and this is how things have turned out. But it should not be all doom and gloom for Boyata; having proved himself at Celtic, he now has the chance to go to Germany and assert himself once more at the back for Hertha Berlin. They have a fantastic fanbase which – with Boyata’s attitude – will take to the defender instantly. The future remains bright for Boyata.