Aaron Hickey says he rejected extended terms with Celtic as he thought his chances of first-team football were higher at Hearts - a decision that paid dividends.
The left-back is now a full Scotland international after a move from Tynecastle to Serie A side Bologna paved the way to English Premier League football with Brentford. It could have been so different for the defender, who was offered a chance to sign for boyhood side Celtic after spending four years in their academy system.
In the end he decided to return to Gorgie, where he had started his youth career, and he says it was because senior minutes were more likely in the capital. Celtic then returned with speculated interest in 2020 but Hickey again chose another option in Bologna.
READ MORE: Tom Rogic's Celtic exit reasons explained by Ange Postecoglou as playmaker labelled Hoops 'legend'
He told Brentford's website: "I started off at Hearts when I was really young. I started off at Hearts when I was really young.
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"I stayed until I was 12. Then I went to Celtic because it was my boyhood club. I went there for a good four years.
“Celtic offered me a contract, but I wasn’t playing much. I thought there would be a better opportunity for me to play at Hearts.
"He [Craig Levein] put me in for the Celtic game at Parkhead in front of 60,000. That was class – I loved every minute of it. It was a sell-out at their stadium. I had a few of my pals in the Hearts end and I think my dad was in the Celtic end!”
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