Celtic reveal Balde choices

By European Football
September 5 2005

Celtic have expressed their delight that Bobo Balde turned his back on moves to Fulham and France to remain with the Parkhead, in their push for another Scottish championship. Balde could have left Celtic for free, due to a bizarre clause in his contract, but that contract has been torn up and his future is set at the Glasgow giants prompting chief executive Peter Lawwell to say:

"He had the option but we're delighted he didn't take it.

"The rationale for it was that on 30 January (2005) Bobo had a signed contract offer from Middlesbrough. Frankly the deal was better than the one he ended up with us.

"We wanted Bobo to stay because we wanted him to help push on for the title and because it was too late to bring in a replacement.

"So we signed the contract and agreed to his request for a get-out clause.

"Our rationale was that he would be here, he would be paid no more, and we would have him in the title run-in.

"We would be in no worse a position in this window than if he had not signed the contract.

"Basically we were happy to do it and have no regrets - other than we did not win the title with him."


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