National Team Coach Suggests Celtic Ace Has Been Benched Due To Contract Dispute

National Team Coach Suggests Celtic Ace Has Been Benched Due To Contract Dispute

Israel head coach Alon Hazan has hinted that Celtic winger Liel Abada may be getting less game time after refusing to sign a contract extension.

The 21-year-old has started just two of the last six league matches and he was on the bench for the Scottish League Cup final against Rangers at the weekend. Hasan says that, while he has no issues with the Israeli playing a bit part role, he feels there is more going on than meets the eye:

“Liel Abada plays in a team that are the champions of Scotland and at least he is in the rotation of the squad. It’s not as if he has disappeared or does not get on from the bench. And his numbers are good too.”

“He may not be playing as much as last season, but he is still playing. Maybe his situation is because he didn’t want to extend his contract, but he is still in the squad and being rotated.”

Following the departures of Josip Juranovic and Giorgos Giakoumakis due to contract disputes, the Hoops will need to be careful that they don’t fall into the same trap with Abada.

Southampton and Crystal Palace have both been mentioned as potential suitors for the forward in recent months, and it could be the case that the player is waiting for an offer from the Premier League.

Whatever the case may be, it should be pointed out that Ange Postecoglou’s side have been performing pretty well without him recently anyway.