Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers confirms bid for Matt O'Riley rejected

Celtic have rejected a bid for Matt O’Riley and Brendan Rodgers has insisted he won’t be leaving in the January transfer window.

Reports had linked Atletico Madrid with an offer for the midfielder, with the Spanish side said to be keen on taking O’Riley to Spain on loan initially, with an obligation to buy.

At his media conference on Thursday, Rodgers confirmed that the club had received an offer from Atletico for the Denmark midfielder but that it was below the club’s valuation and that he wouldn’t be sold this month.

“There was that bid,” Rodgers said. “But Matt is obviously a player that we don’t want to lose and he won’t be going anywhere in January.

“I think he’s been absolutely brilliant and I think it’s a great testament to him and obviously what the club can do for a player.

“He got his first full international cap this season and obviously a club like Atletico Madrid is a good club in European football.

“He’s very much a part of what we’re doing. He’s been a joy to work with.”

Rodgers said that he had had a discussion with the in-demand midfielder following the bid, and that the 23-year-old was happy to continue his development with Celtic.

“I had a chat with Matt this morning,” the manager said.

“One of the things I’ve always been impressed with is Matt’s mentality. How he approaches his profession and obviously the respect he has here for Celtic.

“We had an opportunity in the summer but he was happy to extend here, which is great.

“Atletico Madrid is a big club but he obviously knows he’s in a great place here.

“He’s really kicked on this season in his progression and he wants to continue with that.”

“For us, we’ve got no want to sell, we’ve got no need to, and he’ll be here for the second half of the season.”

While he didn’t disclose the details of Atletico’s offer, Rodgers did emphasise that it fell short of what Celtic see as the right price tag.

“Well, you have a value of the player,” he said. “Certainly what has come in for matt in the time I’ve been here is nowhere near the valuation and quality of player that he is.

“Even if it was, we’re in a position where we don’t want to sell.

“It’s great. It shows you that players are developing and the club like Atletico Madrid coming in for you shows you that you’re doing something right.”

O’Riley joined Celtic from MK Dons in 2022, signing a four year contract. He signed a new deal last October that runs until 2027.