The departure of Carl Starfelt does not frustrate Brendan Rodgers as it once would have.
Not because he doesn’t rate the Celta Vigo-bound centre-back, but his own exit and return from the place he says feels like home has reframed his understanding of an oft-debated topic among supporters – just why would you want to leave this club?
Rodgers knows all about being posed that particular question, but experience has made Starfelt’s decision to sample La Liga relatable where once he would have felt the same puzzlement as punters. In the manager’s mind, the Swede is not ‘leaving Celtic’ as such, but leaving the SPFL for one of Europe’s foremost leagues.
It’s the big fish, small pond conundrum in a nutshell.
It is also no secret Starfelt wishes to be closer to his partner, ex-Celtic women’s player Jacynta Galabadaarachchi. Not often do we hear of footballers changing clubs with their relationship in mind – although it probably happens more than we know – but Rodgers points out that career decisions are made with family matters at their heart all the time, and this walk of life is no different.
“I think it was [a frustration] in my first time here I have to say because, I suppose, as someone who loved the club for a long time it was a case of I could never understand why someone would leave Celtic as such,” said Rodgers. “But it’s the way of the world. There’s no great secret in it now.
“Players will come in and I think the supporters now understand that and they understand the model of the club. History has shown that guys will come in and work really well.
“The real key to it all is to ensure that, behind that, there is a plan in place for when one of them does go. That’s the beauty of it. One of things I looked at coming in here was the work that Mark does - he does a fantastic job. He has many players covered really extensively.
“So if that ‘what if’ scenario comes up there’s that possibility to get a player in.
“If you look at the bigger picture of it I’m pretty sure in life I’ve made decisions based on my family. He’s obviously in a really strong relationship and we all make decisions based on relationships or family.
“Sometimes you have to compromise. But then, if you’re in a place or a time when you don’t have to compromise then, if you can do something about it you may well do.
“He’s clearly in a really strong relationship. He was very honest with me when I came in. We had a good sit down and chat about it. And I totally understand where he’s coming from.
“He’s also getting the chance to go to La Liga because, when most players leave here - and even to my own extent - you’re not leaving Celtic, you’re leaving the league. It’s not Celtic you’re leaving.
“I left Celtic for the league, the competition. I’ve come back for Celtic, not the league.
“Young guys like Carl are not leaving Celtic, they are leaving the league to then go and play in La Liga with a greater financial package.
“And then, aligned to that, is a relationship that he’s very, very happy in. It’s a short life, especially as a footballer, and we have to respect that.
“If it all goes through then, in his time here, he’s been a really good servant to the club. He had a really good partnership with Cameron Carter-Vickers for two years and he’ll leave here as a fantastic player who won honours.”
As his return was formalised, it was speculated that it would again only be a matter of time before Rodgers himself again pined for the bright lights of the Premier League. But he has suggested that is an itch which has now been scratched.
Having managed three different teams in England’s top-flight, he insists he would not be disappointed if the chance to work there again never came around. It seems he believes you cannot put a price on being ‘really, really happy’, as he is here.
If I look at it I have managed three Premier League clubs,” Rodgers explained. “Some people never get the chance to manage one. So I know now coming out of the Premier League, if I never go back to the Premier League in my life I’ve had a good run.
“For me there is not that feeling. Of course the challenge was there of the Premier League and I left for the league.
“The challenge was top class players, different systems, top level managers, but I did that with Swansea, and Liverpool and Leicester and there’s only so many you can want to do.
“So my feeling was to come back to here and this is where I am really, really happy.
“The mindset changes slightly in terms of you know the landscape and you have a better feel for it and you understand better the model of the club. It’s not an acceptance. It’s just you find other ways to help the club progress. That’s why I came back. I came back for Celtic, not the league.”
Another question raised by Rodgers’ return was how much could he really be challenged in returning to a country where he had already won everything twice over? But he takes one look at the Premiership in 2023 and wonders how it could be construed as lacking competition for him.
“Listen, when I was up here for near on three years it was very, very good for that,” the 50-year-old inssited. “There are some outstanding coaches up here. Malky Mackay is at Ross County, but with the greatest respect to Ross County, Malky is an excellent manager.
“It wasn’t that long ago I was facing Malky when I was at Liverpool and he was at Cardiff and he was a really up and coming manager. He was very good tactically and a good motivator of his team.
“You see Derek last week with Kilmarnock, he was outstanding when I was up here the last time, outstanding. He made Aberdeen a really, really strong team, difficult to play against and very competitive.
“And now you see with the resources he has, doing the exact same at Kilmarnock. There’s but two, and there’ll be other coaches here: Michael at Rangers, young up and coming manager.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the other guys I haven’t met, like Stephen Robinson. There’s always a challenge in every league, playing against different systems.
“On top of that, you have European football.”
