Cristian Gamboa was not a success at Celtic after being brought in by Brendan Rodgers from West Brom during his first season at the club.
Gamboa came into the club to challenge Mikael Lustig and ultimately take the Swede’s place, but it didn’t work out that way.
Gamboa didn’t look great at the start of his Celtic career and Rodgers quickly lost confidence in the right-back. Mikael Lustig was preferred for the entirety of Rodgers stay at the club.
The defender has lifted the lid on what exactly went on behind the scenes. The Costa Rican claims Rodgers took a dis long to him when Gamboa challenged the Irishman on why he wasn’t more involved.
After that, a failed move to New York City compounded his and the clubs relationship with both Rodgers and Lawwell wanting him to go but the deal collapsing late on.
“I spent a year and a half at West Brom trying to get into the first team and then an opportunity arrived for me at Celtic.” Gamboa told RecordSport.
“Brendan Rodgers signed me and at first I was playing a lot of games, but then I wasn’t playing as much and my minutes on the park decreased until I was hardly even in the squad.
“So I went to see Brendan Rodgers. I wanted to talk to him and ask him why I wasn’t involved as much, but he took it very badly indeed. He did not like me challenging him at all.
“It got worse because I got an offer from New York City in the MLS and they offered me everything I asked for. I was all set to go with my family, but on the last day, the negotiations collapsed.
“From then on I felt like I was always fighting with the club. The manager and president (Peter Lawwell) at Celtic both didn’t like it that I didn’t take up the offer from America.
“My agent was also fighting with the club too and I felt like I was stuck in the middle of it.”
Gamboa finally left the club at the end of last season on a free transfer. The player now in the Bundesliga 2 with Vfl Bochum.
Some time transfers just don’t work out.
