If you're about Glasgow today, you may spot a few of Moussa Dembele's toys strewn about the place, given that he has long-since thrown them all out of his pram. The forward eventually got his move from Celtic to Lyon yesterday, with the fee in the region of €22 million.
Celtic had rejected a bid earlier in the week.
It originally looked like Dembele wouldn't get his move, and the Frenchman took to Twitter with a series of angsty-teenager tweets to articulate his unhappiness.
— Moussa Dembélé (@MDembele_10) August 30, 2018
Don't get it wrong Bhoys and Ghirls nothing to do with people who really care about the club @CelticFC 🤐too much love and respect for you and the crest #CarefulWhoYouCallTheLeaderOfYours pic.twitter.com/3FR1YoJLHr
— Moussa Dembélé (@MDembele_10) August 31, 2018
If the aim of these tweets were to fracture relationships beyond repair to force the move, Dembele was ultimately successful. According to reports, however, Twitter wasn't Dembele's only realm of pettiness. Per The Guardian, Dembele got himself involved in a training ground row with Brendan Rodgers which resulted in sending the player home.
Brendan Rodgers confirmed as much in characteristically polite, understated fashion.
He came in to report for work with his team-mates and, very early on, it became clear he wasn’t up to the expectations we meet for training. It is best not to work if he is still not quite right; it was best for him to get inside.
It doesn’t matter, to be honest. The rest of the players trained very well. We had recovering players from last night and the two new guys [Youssouf Mulumbu and Filip Benkovic] came in and fitted in very well.
My job is to protect the environment and how we work.
Dembele's exit leaves Celtic looking decidedly lightweight up front, with just Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard available as senior strikers. Celtic face Rangers in the first Old Firm derby of the season tomorrow morning, with kick-off slated for 12 noon.
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