Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers described the departure of Liel Abada as “desperately sad” but best for both parties after the Israel international moved to Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC.
Abada last played for Celtic in a 2-1 win over Hibernian on February 7, after which Rodgers felt he was not able to focus on reaching his peak.
The 22-year-old had come under major pressure in his homeland amid Celtic supporters’ backing for the Palestinian people with even an international team-mate publicly advising him to move on.
The winger signed a new four-year deal in September last year, just before suffering a thigh injury which kept him out for the best part of four months.
2 9 goals2 2 assists
We’ve got Abada, he’s on the wing!
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Daizen Maeda marked his 100th Celtic appearance with a match-winning hat-trick as the holders saw off a spirited challenge from Livingston to reach the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-finals.
Maeda put Celtic ahead for the third time in the 86th minute to take his tally for the club to 27 goals after the cinch Premiership bottom side had twice equalised at Celtic Park through Daniel MacKay and Tete Yengi.
Substitute Kyogo Furuhashi was on target deep into stoppage time as Celtic sealed a 4-2 triumph.
Celtic missed both Callum McGregor and Cameron Carter-Vickers through injury, but they did just enough to seal a Hampden trip next month.
Carter-Vickers was withdrawn as a precaution after the defender’s hamstring caused concern in training, while Luis Palma…
Borussia Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl says the club will be forced to consider any sizeable bids for highly-rated midfielder Granit Xhaka.
The Switzerland international has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool recently, having become a key part of Gladbach s plans since arriving from Basel in 2012.
Xhaka was also talked of as a possible long-term replacement for Bastian Schweinsteiger following his exit from Bayern Munich and was backed by former Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld to succeed at the Allianz Arena.
The 23-year-old agreed a new four-and-a-half-year deal in February 2015 but Eberl says the club could be tempted to sell for the right price.
It depends a bit on our own sporting success, it depends on Granit s …
Thibaut Courtois said Chelsea s playing group and fans had welcomed him to Stamford Bridge with open arms.
The Belgian goalkeeper signed for the Londoners in 2011 but only reported for club duty on Thursday after his three-year loan stint at Atletico Madrid ended last season.
Courtois, 22, already has a wealth of experience under his belt, with this year alone seeing him win the La Liga title, play in a UEFA Champions League final and feature at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
And after making his long-awaited return to West London, Courtois said he felt as much a part of the team as anyone, largely thanks to the club s players.
My new team-mates have been really great; they ve welcomed me and you really feel that you are a part of this team, Courtois told…
Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi is coming off from quite a night.
The 25-year-old completely dominated the Serie A yearly award ceremony by scooping up Player of the Year prize and claiming the Goal of the Year accolade as well.
Decided by members Italian Players’ Association (AIC) the prizes were awarded is last night’s Gran Gala’ del Calcio ceremony.
Icardi’s back heel flip was voted the best goal of the 2017/18 season…
…but Icardi feels there has been a better one.
“Personally, I think my goal against Milan was better, but thank you to everyone who voted for me.”, Icardi said.
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Sadio Mane has warned Premier League title rivals Manchester City that Liverpool are yet to hit top form.
Jurgen Klopp s side are four points clear of champions City having only lost once in the Premier League this season at the Etihad Stadium on January 3.
In theory, Liverpool also have a clearer run to the title as they are out of both domestic cups, whereas City are in the FA Cup fifth round and have booked an EFL Cup final clash with Chelsea.
And Mane feels Liverpool, who are at home to Leicester City on Wednesday, can still get even better.
We heard what some of the media were saying about us not starting off by playing as fast and exciting as last year, and we felt we weren t at our best ourselves at times, he told World Soccer.
The result…
Chelsea head coach Graham Potter believes his team as a whole must do better in attack following Saturday s drab draw with Manchester United.
The Blues had just six attempts and two on target in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, their goal coming from the penalty spot through Jorginho.
Raheem Sterling was quiet again as he waits on a first career goal against United. He has a sole goal involvement in his past six Chelsea matches in all competitions and none in his past four.
Speaking ahead of the midweek Champions League meeting with Salzburg, Potter deflected blame from Sterling, calling on the entire team to improve going forward.
I think it s more of a team thing. We have to try to do better as a team, improve our attacking play as a team, and then indiv…
England captain Harry Kane is to undergo surgery on his left hamstring and will be out of action until at least April, his club Tottenham have announced.
The striker suffered his injury on New Year s Day when scoring a goal against Southampton that was ruled out for offside.
Spurs have specified the setback as a ruptured tendon and it means Kane is set to miss most of the rest of the Premier League season.
For England, the news comes as a blow to boss Gareth Southgate given Kane will miss a significant chunk of the build-up to Euro 2020, being ruled out of March friendlies against Italy and Denmark.
However, provided that he returns to training on time, Kane should be able to build up his match fitness over the closing weeks of 2019-20.
Tottenham …