The speculation surrounding Celtic hero Matt O’Riley’s Parkhead future was always going to come under the spotlight this summer.
After Atletico Madrid’s interest was batted away in January by Celtic, interest in the Danish international was expected to ramp up in the summer, especially after his displays in the Champions League.
Thankfully (and I mean this strictly from a transfer perspective) O’Riley wasn’t selected by Denmark to go to Euro 2024 because there is no doubt in my mind that he would have shone at the tournament.
Which would have brought more potential suitors to the table for his signature. Not that Celtic need more.
With Roma being the latest club to show interest in the silky midfielder, Celtic faces a battle to keep a hold of their star player.
So whilst it seems there is competition for his signature, Peter Grant has told O’Riley why he should snub the Premier League if he does decide to leave Celtic this summer.
O’Riley told to go to La Liga or Serie A
Roma are not the only Seria A club to show interest in O’Riley. Inter Milan is also keeping tabs on the Celtic midfielder and Grant thinks that unless it’s one of England’s top six clubs that come calling, the Hoops hero should turn his back on the Premier League.
Grant said [The Go Radio Football Show], “Definitely [if he should go to the Serie A]. Listen, if we lose him, I would be saying to him who’s going to take him in England?
“I’m looking at it and I’m thinking to myself, if it’s none of the big guns, the top six as they say, if it’s none of them if I was Matt, I would go abroad then if that’s the case.
“I genuinely would. Because you’ve got your Manchester United’s and your Liverpool’s that’s slightly different, there is no going away from that.
“If Celtic get the money that they want for them and they’ve come to an agreement that we didn’t know but about, obviously Atletico Madrid at Christmas time.
“So if there’s some sort of agreement and you’re getting a good value for him, but if not, I would definitely say with his qualities, he could definitely play in La Liga or Serie A.
“That quality, that’s where I’d be saying to him to go and play.”
Brighton, West Ham United and Everton are all said to be looking at O’Riley and with the greatest of respect, apart from a healthy wage packet, none of these clubs can match O’Riley’s obvious ambition to make it to the top of his game.
Mid-table mediocrity is pointless for the Denmark international. At least playing for the likes of Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan will give him the opportunity to improve his medal haul further and make significant progress toward winning a European trophy.
O’Riley’s options are plenty and I agree with Grant, if he does decide to leave Celtic this summer, the continent would be the best move for him.