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Former Celtic hero Jackie McNamara has told Football Insider that the problems between the club and Olivier Ntcham have been resolved.
What’s he said?
McNamara has had his say on the Ntcham situation, and he thinks any beef between Celtic, Neil Lennon and the player has been squashed.
The French midfielder had stated his desire to leave the Bhoys and said that he was too good for Scottish football, per L’Equipe, amid interest from his homeland and Portugal.
Marseille had been linked, according to The Daily Record, as had Porto, per Football Insider, yet their interest has seemingly cooled.
And after the Frenchman came on as a late substitute in Wednesday’s 5-0 demolition of Nomme Kalju, McNamara believes that the tricky situation has been sorted.
The ex-Dundee United manager said: “Neil’s obviously dealt with that internally and spoke to the boy. It’s probably a case of he’s been back home and people have put things onto it and spun things differently.”
A well-resolved issue
Ntcham’s return to the side certainly support McNamara’s comments as it’s hard to envisage Lennon simply caving to his demands and playing him anyway, and he could well be like a new signing if he knuckles down and concentrates on his football.
The 23-year-old was magnificent in his debut season, arriving from Manchester City for £4.5m, performing well as he racked up 48 appearances. The former Genoa loanee directly contributed to 15 goals and looked to be nailing down a starting role at the club.
Yet in his second season, he looked a shell of himself as he saw Ryan Christie, Scott Brown and Callum McGregor establish themselves as the preferred midfield three under both Lennon and Brendan Rodgers.
If Ntcham wants to earn his big move away then he’ll have to replicate or perhaps even better his form from his debut season in Glasgow, and despite strong competition ahead of him it will easier for him to thrive if he and Lennon set their differences aside, as McNamara has suggested is the case.
If he can get his head right and perform then not only will Lennon have another top-class option alongside Brown, McGregor and Christie for his midfield, but Ntcham may get his big move after all, and bank a tidy profit for the Hoops in the process.
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