Callum McGregor

All footballers don’t do the same job though, that’s the whole point. Otherwise pretty much every footballer at a club would be on the same wage. That’s not the case however. Players are on different wages as some are better or have much more potential than others.

 

Callum McGregor has opened up on his top-secret chat on with Brendan Rodgers while on holiday this summer.


The Celtic captain met with the Irishman while the pair were both on their respective trips in Mallorca last month.

The Scotland international described the conversation as a "sliding doors moment", as it became clear that Rodgers would be returning to Parkhead as boss.

The midfielder candidly lifted the lid on the chance meeting while speaking on the club's pre-season tour of Japan



However, McGregor insists that he was not sent by Celtic and that it was Rodgers who reached out to him.

The skipper said: “I didn’t mention it to anyone — not a word. I never told a soul. Everyone was asking me that week what I was up to. And I just told them I was doing nothing but chilling out by the pool."

McGregor continued: “It was when I was on holiday for around five days before I met up with the Scotland squad.

“I flew out to Mallorca, and completely randomly, things started to unfold at Celtic with Ange moving on. I was just taking a few days to chill out.

“I then got a message from the manager asking how I was and if we could catch up.

“He’d heard I was out there — he’s clearly got spies everywhere. So it shows you never go under the radar for long.

“He was staying around 30 minutes away from me. We just met at my hotel and it was easy enough for me.

“Brendan came to my hotel and we just stayed and had a bit of lunch. We were just in the restaurant so I was actually surprised nothing came out about us meeting at that point. We were just lucky to get a wee bit of privacy to have a chat.



The hotel was nice and private. But it stayed under the radar, probably for as long as it needed to, until he told everybody about it

No, we obviously had a great relationship the last time he was here, and we kept in touch and remained pretty close. Even during his time at Leicester we stayed in contact.

“So I met Brendan, we had a bit of lunch, and quickly got talking about the club. We then started delving into some serious chat, and that’s when I realised that this could happen.

"I had to give an honest assessment on where I felt things were at. And he was the same.

“We sat there together for almost three hours, just talking football and speaking about Celtic and different things. I think we both left the chat in a really good place.

“We got more and more serious as the chat progressed, and really delved into how we felt things were at the club.

“I know these things take time to be put together, but we both had a really good feeling about it at the meeting.

“It was then down to the guys at Celtic to do the work from there.

“As the days progressed the chat was getting more and more serious about him coming back.

“I was just glad that I could play my part, as much as it was purely off the cuff and it wasn’t planned.

“I know there are a few rumours out there that the club asked me to do it, but that wasn’t the case. I wasn’t sent to Majorca to see him.

“It was purely by coincidence I happened to be in Spain, but sometimes in football you get these sliding doors moments.

"After that everything just seemed to fit perfectly. We are obviously delighted to have him back because Brendan’s a top manager, and the work done in pre-season has been excellent.”

 

His footballing brain is second to none. Like a chess player he sees 3 moves ahead. When you have that tactical awareness, speed and power are not really needed.

Said in the match thread, he reminds me of Ledley so much. An absolute essential part of a midfield. Not as flashy as a Hatate, not as aggressive as a Wanyama but you know * all about football if you don't see what he brings to a football team.

We are lucky to have him and he is clearly a massive Tim.

My captain.

 

Think he's a level above Ledley tbh much more tidy but I can see some similarities atleast

 

I would agree with that, I more meant their role in the midfield. It's not the flashiest. People said the same about Ledley, aw he disnae score enough, doesn't put his body on the line etc.

Managers know the importance of such players though.

 

Izzy when he won POTY should have given the award to Ledley. Without him we would have been destroyed down our left hand side. When Izzy bombed forward, Joe would just shuffle a few yards left and make sure any turnover wouldn't hurt us.

Not many people appreciate that stuff.

 

Would easily play in any top flight in the world for a decent team comfortably.

He's so good.

 

The Scottish Xavi

 

Was making 45million quid players look like sunday league *

 

Looked so easy for him today. Amongst better company he still wouldn't look out of place. Prob make him look even better tbh.

 

Lay the challenge down for him he will step up and over take

 

I dont know If Celtic have just been really good at hiding interest but you never hear of teams over the years interested barring Rodgers when he left.
It amazes me. Plays great for Scotland too

 

I think there's prob been loads of interest over the years but he's absolutely dedicated to us. In interviews he makes it quite clear he's only interested in playing here. It's been the case for a good while which shows you how much of a part agents play in leaking stories for rumours etc. A player of his quality and next to no rumours.

 

He essentially plays like a £40 million player, we're very lucky to have him, and he'd have absolutely strolled the Prem had he went down there.

 

As brilliant as he was under Ange, and as important as he has been, his role was very controlled and lacked a bit of freedom.

So far, pre-season judgment, he’s been let off the leash a wee bit more. Some of his passing today was insane.

 

I think there was an article last year him saying there’s been a few serious options but he’s never considered it.

Him, James Forrest and Scott Brown over the last 15 years have been the three guys who could have left, more money, bigger league and have had confirmed interest throughout the time at us that have decided to have no time for it, absolutely loved the club during their time and not only backed up their decisions to be here with bringing success but makes me reflect on the fact that we’re lucky to have had that.

Forrest’s rare interview saying he’s talked to a lot of guys who have left us in his time here who majorly regret it, more than we as fans know, just shows how happy they’ve been bringing success here.

And out the 3, McGregor is the one who is the highest level. He is an astounding footballer man.

 

My only concern is we overplay him. The amount of games he plays is unreal, throw in internationals as well.
We really need to manage his game time, we flogged the likes Brown and KT in the past and it done them no favors.
He is so vital to the way we play.