Matt O'Riley: Celtic midfielder staying after Atletico Madrid's bid rejected, insists Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers insists Matt O'Riley will remain a Celtic player; the club have rejected an offer for the midfielder from Atletico Madrid

Digital Sports Journalist @AlisonGConroy

Thursday 25 January 2024 18:16, UK

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers insists Matt O'Riley will not be sold this month after confirming the club had rejected an offer from Atletico Madrid for the Denmark midfielder.

Celtic had been braced for bids for the highly-rated midfielder this month amid interest from clubs across Europe including current LaLiga leaders Girona and Inter Milan, who sit second in Serie A.

Sky Sports News understands the offer from Atletico was an initial loan plus an obligation to buy.

Rodgers said: «There was that, but Matt is a player we don't want to lose and he won't be going anywhere in January.

»It's a great testament to him and what the club can do for a player. He won his first international cap this season and Atletico Madrid are a big club in European football.

«He is very much part of what we are doing. He has been a joy to work with.»

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The Hoops boss said he spoke to the influential midfielder following the bid, and the 23-year-old was happy to continue his development with Celtic.

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«I had a chat with Matt this morning,» the manager said.

«One of the things I've always been impressed with is Matt's mentality. How he approaches his profession and obviously the respect he has here for Celtic.

»We had an opportunity in the summer but he was happy to extend here, which is great.

«Atletico Madrid is a big