Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady has revealed details of when the club attempted to bring the academy graduate back to Glasgow under Ronny Deila.
Speaking to the Press Box Podcast, McGeady revealed phone calls between himself and John Kennedy, discussing a possible return to the Hoops whilst he was at Everton. He also stated that during the early parts of his career, the dream was to come back to Celtic.
“There was a possibility for me to rejoin Celtic, actually.
“It was when I was at Everton where I was in and out of the team, and Ronny Deila was the manager.
“John Kennedy actually phoned me and asked if I fancied going back; I can’t remember if it was on loan or permanent.
“But I had only been an Everton less than a year and had it in the back of my head that I didn’t want to go back then as I thought I would play for Everton at some point.
“After that, the opportunity never appeared again. Deila got sacked, Brendan Rodgers came in, and for whatever reason, he wanted to go down a different route.
“I had it in my head when I was younger that I wanted to come back to Celtic one day and finishing my career there would’ve been the ideal scenario.
“But it just didn’t happen, and it won’t now as it’s not happened yet, I don’t think.
“When I left, Peter Lawwell said ‘never say never in football’ about going back one day.
“I don’t know if I would play for another team in Scotland, football is a funny game, and things can change.
“I don’t want to come across as disrespectful, but I want to play in England for as long as I can.
“I would like to say yes to coming back up and finishing my career in Scotland and living in Glasgow, but it might not be what the clubs that would want me would want.”
During his time as a youngster with the Hoops, McGeady became a fans favourite for many as a tricky winger, coming through the academy at a young age.
He has played the vast majority of his football across the league down south with the likes of Everton and Sunderland, where he currently spends his time.
A return to Glasgow would have been interesting to see, the sort of impact he would have around the place with several young players coming through, just as he did at that point under Deila.
