Michel-Ange Balikwisha

Royal Antwerp star Michel-Ange Balikwisha has revealed he turned down a move to Celtic last month because he didn't want to go when he was injured.

The Scottish Premiership champions were linked with a £5 million move for the Belgian Under 21s international in the summer and during last month's transfer window. However, the 23-year-old had a muscle tear at the start of the season and missed six months of the campaign

Balikwisha, who has 18 months left of his contract, made his comeback at the weekend against Anderlecht and claimed that Celtic were still interested in him despite his injury with Brendan Rodgers admitting he would liked to have done more in the market. He said: "Celtic's interest was concrete, but I chose to stay. Leaving with an injury was not ideal for me. I would rather take good care of myself so I could be ready for the play-offs

We will see in the summer transfer window." And he reckons he's raring to go for the rest of the season. He said: "I’m still searching for sharpness in front of goal, but that will come back in time


I’m happy that everything is going well. It feels good to touch the ball again. I’ve had highs and lows, and I’ve had two surgeries. There was something wrong with the stitching. That’s why the recovery period took longer than expected


I could have continued playing, but you don't want to play football in pain. Then I chose to rehabilitate on an individual basis - something the club agreed to - to feel 100 per cent again

 

I dont buy it

 

Don't believe it. He's been out injured most of the season

 

No thanks..

 

I could have seen us planning to sign him in January but when he took longer to get fit then came back and got injured again, there’s no way we were signing him in January. We can easily sit and see how he does until the summer and then he has a year on his deal.

Plus it’s unlikely we need a left winger now, it would be a right one more likely.

 

See ya.

 

Yep: left-footer for the RW position. Direct competition for Kühn. Can’t argue we have depth when there’s only left-footed player in the entire attack.

 

I call bull * on this by him we had choice between him and jota and it was always gonna be jota he was injured aswell


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Slip celtics name in, keeps interest for others for the summer. Pass.

 

He's a very good player, but he's been done by injuries, and bad ones at that, too big a risk now.

We got Jota now, so don't need him anymore.

 

Every winger we were linked with during the previous window looked better than him.

I hope we go back in for Moro, but would be more than happy with Orjasaeter too.