FORMER Belgium Assistant Manager Vital Borkelmans has urged Dedryk Boyata to sign a new deal with Celtic after impressing at the World Cup.
The defender played all three of Belgium’s group games while Vincent Kompany was injured, acquitting himself very well and certainly making him one of the first names on the list to permanently replace Kompany in the Belgian setup when he retires.
Vital believes Boyata has been transformed at Celtic and while there is more money in other leagues if he wants to fulfil his international destiny – he should be looking at a new long term deal with the club.
“I know it is a vital time for Dedryck with his future. He has only a year left of his Celtic contract.
“It is certain there will be many clubs now interested in him.
“But Dedryck is playing every week for Celtic and also in the Champions League. Sure, he could earn more money elsewhere and get a higher profile, but what happens if he goes to Italy, Spain or to England and doesn’t play so much? That would badly affect him for Belgium.”
“He is at a great club in Celtic and I was happy when he chose to go there from Manchester City. At that time I publicly said how good he could become.”
This breaks from the norm of what Celtic fans usually hear when it comes to International coaches talking about players at the club.
A lot of times players are urged to leave Celtic in order to win a call up to their international squad. With Dedryk, he’s not only won the World call up playing for Celtic, he’s now being told to stay at Parkhead to consolidate his place.
The club is set to open up talks with the defender’s representatives about a new deal – Brendan Rodgers is hopeful Dedryk will stay.
