Was it worth it, in the end?
Was it worth turning your nose up at Celtic in favour of a club who have just terminated your contract having suspended you from first-team duties and having handed you just ten league starts during the 2023/24 campaign?
That is the question Valentin Rosier may be asking after Besiktas announced that the full-back would be let go on a free transfer well ahead of schedule.
To think, Rosier could instead have been part of a Celtic side who claimed yet another domestic double under Brendan Rodgers last term. He could have made the right-back spot his own in Glasgow before Josip Juranovic and Alistair Johnson made Parkhead their home.
According to Sabah, Celtic held talks with Rosier back in 2021 when he was a Sporting Lisbon player. But, having spent two successful seasons on loan at Besiktas, the Hoops removed their hat from the ring once it became apparent that Rosier only had eyes for a permanent deal at the Turkish giants.
A permanent deal which proved to be a lot less successful than his previous, temporary agreement.
Celtic missed out on £4 million Valentin Rosier deal
Rosier, who set Besiktas back a cool £4 million, was one of a number of senior players dumped from the first-team squad in December of last year.
Vincent Aboubakar, Jean Onana, Rachid Ghezzall and one-time Manchester United defender Eric Bailly also found themselves in the proverbial bomb squad.
“(The four players) have been excluded from the squad due to their poor performance and incompatibility within the team,” read a cutting statement posted on Besiktas’ official website at the time.
Rosier would never pull on that black and white shirt again.
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Farmed out on loan at Nice in January, the former France Under 21 international managed a grand total of 50 Ligue 1 minutes before the Ineos-owned outfit understandably opted against turning his loan into a full-time transfer.
And, the next time Besiktas put out a statement with Rosier at the heart of it, it was to confirm that the 27-year-old’s contract had been rescinded.
Rosier moves to Spain on a free transfer
“Besiktas has notified the Public Disclosure Platform that we have parted ways with our professional football player Valentin Rosier,” the Super Lig giants say.
“Our contract with our professional football player Valentin Andre Henri Rosier has been terminated by mutual consent.”
Now, there is no question of Celtic renewing their interest in a player who suddenly found himself without a club this week. Not now that Rosier has put pen to paper with a new team, moving to newly-promoted La Liga outfit Leganas on a free transfer.
With Johnston and Anthony Ralston giving Celtic plenty of quality and competition for the right-back berth, Celtic’s summer is likely to revolve around potential additions at either end of the pitch.
A replacement for the recently-retired Joe Hart is still required between the sticks. HITC were told that Coaimhin Kelleher is the leading target but a price-tag in the £15 million region may put pay to those hopes.
Far more affordable – and attainable – is Adam Idah.
HITC understands that Celtic failed with an opening bid of around £4 million this week. There is a belief, however, that Norwich City will sell the former loan star who netted the decider in the Scottish Cup final victory over Rangers at Hampden Park, even if the eventual fee may be twice as much as the double-winners opening bid.
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