Callum McGregor faces a big decision over his future as reports link Al-Qadsiah with an ambitious move for the Celtic captain. Brendan Rodgers, who tried to sign McGregor for Leicester City in 2019, is said to want the Saudi club to make a push for the 32-year-old midfielder.
Celtic are expected to fight to keep McGregor if a money-spinning offer from the Middle East lands on the table. The midfielder has two years left on his contract, but the size of the potential package, and Rodgers’ presence at Al-Qadsiah, has given the story weight this week.
Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadh reported that Al-Qadsiah’s management have been told by Rodgers he would like to add more experience to his squad. The club are also said to be keen to support Rodgers in his “journey with the club” and his “future plans for great stability and technical leadership.”
That comes after Al-Qadsiah climbed to fourth spot in the Saudi Pro League and beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr last weekend, a result that underlined how quickly the project is gathering momentum. The side is understood to have a bumper budget available, which would make any move for McGregor far more realistic than a standard summer rumour.
For Celtic, the issue is complicated by what McGregor represents on the pitch. He is the skipper, the central voice in the dressing room and one of the players around whom the team is built. The season has been disappointing by the club’s own standards, though it could still end with McGregor lifting the Premiership and Scottish Cup.
Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew said the midfielder should not be blamed for the mood around the club. “It’s not been Callum’s fault,” he said. “He plays a part in it, Callum would admit that himself, but things haven’t been right at Celtic and he suffers as the captain on the pitch.”
Mulgrew added that McGregor is still carrying the side through difficult spells. “But, he is still there every time. He is now playing with a knock, he is a top player,” he said. “We talk about Rangers not having that leadership, and Martin O'Neill will know Callum is a big part of that at Celtic.”
The salary on offer in Saudi Arabia could be decisive if Al-Qadsiah turn interest into an offer. “That money will be tempting [in Saudi],” Mulgrew said. “It’s a lot of money and he has done it all at Celtic.”
McGregor has already made his own position clear. Earlier this season, he said he wants to stay at Celtic only if the club match his ambition. “I think as well for Callum, he has come out and said he wants the club to match his ambition,” Mulgrew said. “If they show that vision Callum will potentially be willing to stay.”
That leaves Celtic with a familiar test. If Al-Qadsiah decide to spend heavily, the club will have to persuade one of its most important players that his future is still best served in Glasgow, not in a Saudi project with money, momentum and a manager who has wanted him before.
