Are Celtic inching ever closer to losing Callum McGregor? Right now, the club certainly isn’t matching his ambition, is it?
Celtic aren't matching Callum McGregor's ambition this summer. Could it result in us losing out talismanic captain?
Eric Knott Yesterday, an alarming revelation appeared about Callum McGregor.
It might mean something, it might mean nothing.
It appears that McGregor is now listed with the agency, Unique Sports Group.
This is the same agency that former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is with.
Now, McGregor may have decided to go with this agency based on Rodgers’ recommendation.
It might just be something as simple as that.
I’m sure they remain in contact.
After all, Rodgers is one of the biggest influences on McGregor’s career.
During his two stints at Celtic, Rodgers has managed McGregor during the peak years of his career.
There is no doubting that they would have formed a bond over those two periods of time.
The question here is whether that bond is stronger than the bond McGregor has with Celtic?
Celtic has been a huge part of McGregor’s life, that cannot be disputed.
But McGregor has made it clear that if the club is not willing to match his ambition, then he might have to consider his options.
Here’s a reminder of what he said:
These were his quotes. pic.twitter.com/hnM6Cvw30G
— 🍔 Gastro Celtic 🍀 (@Gastro_Celtic) July 9, 2026
Now, he doesn’t openly state that he’ll leave if the club doesn’t match his ambition, but what he does do, is lay out clearly what he expects from the club.
Would you say that those expectations are being met?
We have one signing in the door at the club in Camilo Duran.
The season kicks off in 3 weeks.
The day before pre-season training kicked off, our coaching team was finalised.
We still do not have a Director of Football, or Head of Football Operations – whatever you want to call it – at the club.
The youth set up is beyond a joke, and we hemorrhage any talent of note to EPL clubs, with Dara Jikiemi being the latest in a long line of talented players to head south.
We seem to do nothing to prevent this.
The club is nowhere near matching the ambitions of it’s current captain.
So, I ask the question, could you really blame Callum McGregor for leaving Celtic if Brendan Rodgers came calling with an offer that would be hard to resist?
Saudi window closes 2x weeks after ours… you'd imagine Calmac will make the call based on recruitment…
— 🍔 Gastro Celtic 🍀 (@Gastro_Celtic) July 9, 2026
So more than likely he'll be off then! 🤣 https://t.co/r1frmsjAu1
As I’ve state in previous articles on this subject, at 33 Callum McGregor isn’t getting any younger.
If he was to go to Saudi Arabia, it would be for life changing money.
He is no position to command this kind of money anywhere in the U.K. at his age.
He would be set for life.
Add that temptation into witnessing the persistent managed decline at Celtic, and you’ve got to imagine McGregor is at least thinking about it.
Look, I understand he’s one of the top paid players at Celtic, and he’s definitely financially set for the immediate future.
McGregor’s experience in the game would ensure a career in football after retirement anyway.
Whether that would be through management or TV work, remains to be seen.
But surely he must be tiring of the charade at Celtic?
Surely he must be getting worn out from seeing the same car crash play out summer after summer?
Thus far, this summer is no different.
In fact, if anything, it has been worse than last summer.
Everybody’s patience has a limit.
This time last year, we thought that Brendan Rodgers patience would ensure he saw out his 3 year contract at Celtic.
In his words he said he would be at the club for the duration of his 3 year contract unless he was ’emptied’.
Lo and behold, then the Celtic board did manage to ’empty’ him, and we all know what happened thereafter.
I’m sure that Callum McGregor looked at that and shook his head.
I’d also wager he wasn’t impressed with the treatment of John Kennedy, whose only crime was to remain loyal to the manager he believed in.
When the Wilfried Nancy debacle unfolded in real time under his captaincy, I’m pretty certain that Callum McGregor was left questioning what the hell was going on at Celtic.
Do you think he trusts the people running this club?
I’ll let you be the judge of that.
As the X post from Gastro Celtic states, the Saudi transfer window closes 2 weeks after the European window.
By that time, Callum McGregor will have seen just how serious the Celtic board are about retaining our title.
He will also know which level we’ll be competing at on the European stage.
If we have failed once again to qualify for the Champions League through a complete lack of preparation, then I’m sure he isn’t going to be best pleased.
Will it be a case of him having seen that particular car crash one time’s too many?
While all this might just be pure speculation, Callum McGregor is human.
We’re all tired of watching the same scene unfold year after year at Celtic.
We’re all worn out from hearing the same lame excuses trotted out when it happens, followed by the lies that the board will learn from their mistakes.
They don’t.
They never do.
Surely Callum McGregor gets worn out from it too?
We’re almost mid way through the summer and this Celtic board still have one hell of a rebuild on their hands.
While time ticks away, they’ve managed one signing, and cannot seem to secure deals for players who were already at the club last season.
The Marcelo Saracchi and Kelechi Iheanacho sagas continue to drag on.
Both are no brainers, and should not be difficult.
Yet this board makes everything difficult.
So difficult, that nobody has any faith in them to take our club forward any more.
Which begs the question, what level of faith does Callum McGregor have in them?
Will this summer be the one that pushes him to say, f*** it, I’ve had enough?
If it does, Brendan Rodgers will be waiting in the wings with a lucrative, life-changing offer.
If he decided to take it, would you really blame him?
I know who I would blame.
And it certainly wouldn’t be Callum McGregor.
Key Takeaways
- Callum McGregor is now with the Unique Sports Group agency, linked to Brendan Rodgers.
- He has expressed concerns about Celtic not meeting his ambitions, indicating he may consider his options.
- The club’s management issues and lack of significant signings frustrate fans and McGregor alike.
- At 33, McGregor could seek lucrative opportunities elsewhere if he feels Celtic doesn’t support his goals.
- Despite financial stability, McGregor’s patience may wear thin with Celtic’s persistent struggles.
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Phillip Cooney 
Bhoycie 
Aodhán Ó Conchobhair 
The club only match the ambition of the odious Desmond and his malignant cabal of corporate greed and austerity fc so they are right into the money trough right up to their fat and gready little necks , all financed by the season ticket holders, who are paying for our destruction, so thanks very much ,in the final analysis it’s the season ticket holders who have no ambition other than their nice little seat where they can watch the standard slowly decline . Stop giving them your money or you are complicit in the destruction of our club
Well said Che, totally agree
I’m sure Ange will be keeping his eye on his passed captain. £30:000. V £100:000 per week. It’s a difficult decision… and that conservative numbers. 🥴
If we lose all the players expected to go, Engls, Maeda, Hatate, possibly Calmac now and even Johnston, winning anything next season will be very difficult. This board is simply not capable of such a rebuild. We may also not see Saracchi and Iheanacho back which leaves us even weaker. Worrying last few weeks of the window for us all. The sale of our best players plus the season ticket money could give this board a massive sum of money to add to the already inflated bank account and likely lead to big bonuses for our men in grey. Have they got the bottle to do this in spite of the obvious severe backlash from the fans if this happens? I think they may have as money and profit are their main priority. They know the fans will protest but still come back and pump the cash in due to their love of the team. We don’t seem to be holding the cards to do anything about their actions.
I agree 100% Eric