Celtic captain Callum McGregor has spoken out about his pre-season focus amid growing speculation linking him with a reunion with former manager Brendan Rodgers at Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah. Rodgers, now in charge at Al-Qadsiah, is reportedly keen to sign the 33-year-old midfielder as part of a major squad overhaul.
Contract and Agent Change Fuel Rumours
McGregor has two years remaining on his Celtic contract, but speculation intensified after he switched agents to Unique Sports Group, the same agency that represents Rodgers. Former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill admitted he cannot guarantee the captain will stay, with showdown talks expected over his future this summer. Just months ago, McGregor warned club chiefs he could leave unless they matched his ambitions.
Pre-Season Focus in Lisbon
Despite the transfer chatter, McGregor has shifted his attention to pre-season training in Lisbon, where he is driving standards within the squad. He said: "Yeah, basically, can we be the best version of Celtic we can be? I think that's always the start point. Obviously, there'll be challenges for the season, hopefully, not as many as what we had last season, but, for sure there will be challenges. There'll be disappointment. I've pretty much said it in every preseason trip."
He added: "At some point in the season, we will all be tested, the character will be tested, the team will be tested in that sense, so it's how we're reacting, and deal with pressure, and deal with setbacks. So a lot of the work that you do in preseason, when you're tired, when the sessions are long, it's finding that something mental's trying to get through it, and that's what will carry us through difficult moments throughout the season."
Defending the Title
Pressed on whether he is motivated to defend the Scottish Premiership title, McGregor offered a carefully-worded response, insisting it is the job of every Celtic player. He said: "I think that's the job of a Celtic player, is that we don't get tired of winning, because we've set ourself an unbelievable standard over the last 14, 15 years that have been successful, won numerous amounts of titles, trophies, trying to push all the time in sort of European football to be as good as we can be."
He continued: "And all that does is bring in bigger expectation, a bigger target on your back, so you then have to defend that. It's hard as it was last season to win them, you then have to work even harder to defend it. So, the players and the core group that have been there for a long time, they understand that. And they have to drive that level. So, yeah, as a Celtic player, you can never ever be able to winning, and trying to be the best that you can be, and trying to improve one as an individual, and then two collectively."
Rodgers' Saudi Plans
Reports from the Middle East indicate that Rodgers is currently "vetting" his squad as he evaluates his foreign player options for Al-Qadsiah. Saudi Pro League clubs are allowed up to 10 foreign players in their 25-man squads, and Asharq Al-Awsat reports that the Irishman is keen to free up two spaces for big-money offers to incoming stars. He is also looking at players who will feature in the Asian Champions League, King's Cup, and Saudi Super Cup next season.
