Transfer Centre

Brendan Rodgers admits Liel Abada could leave Celtic on loan

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 16 February 2024

Brendan Rodgers admits that winger Liel Abada could leave Celtic on loan as he "does not feel quite right or ready" to play for the club.

Brendan Rodgers has admitted that winger Liel Abada could leave Celtic on loan as he "does not feel quite right or ready" to play for the club.

The 22-year-old Israel international finds himself in a difficult position amid the ongoing conflict between his homeland and Palestine.

Large numbers of Celtic supporters have regularly shown their support for Palestine, with the country's flags flown at Parkhead during matches amid Israel's ongoing military assault in Gaza.

The Green Brigade ultras group have also encouraged other Celtic fans to join them in song before Saturday's Scottish Premiership match at home against Kilmarnock in support of Palestinians.

Abada has been left out of Celtic's matchday squad for their last two games against Hibernian and St Mirren and he is expected to miss this weekend's visit of Kilmarnock.

Celtic fans display Palestinian flags in support of Palestine amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas before the match on October 25, 2023 © Reuters

Discussing Abada's situation at a press conference on Friday, Rodgers said: "It's still the same situation. I have had lots of conversations with Liel and I am really empathetic towards the issue he has. It's more than football. It's at a human level, so I have to respect that.

"He is training, he is working away, but this period is all about the mind and, if you're not quite right or ready, firstly I can't take any risk with him, because we will always support the player and obviously I also have to protect the squad as well."

Asked if a loan move away from Celtic could be an option for Abada, Rodgers said: "It's a possibility, but we'll see. We will work together on it."

Rodgers has revealed that he had dinner with Abada to discuss his situation following the attacks by Hamas on Israel in October.

The winger has only made 11 first-team appearances for Celtic in all competitions this season and has struggled for regular game time since recovering from a long-term thigh injury.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers celebrates after the match on January 21, 2024 © Reuters

"My job isn't just a football manager," said Rodgers. "This is a young guy, 22 years of age, far, far away from home. People can talk about what's going on there and then they can forget about it. This is the reality for him, this is his life.

"Every single day, every night, families in a war, so it's a really, really tough situation for him. On a human level, I have real, real empathy for him.

"It's the sadness of it - he re-signed for us because he had great belief he could go on and develop, then he had a period out with injury and now coming back he has found it a real, real challenge. But I am here to support him and everything else is secondary to that.

"And, when he's ready, if he ever is ready, then he will be able to give us everything."

Abada joined Celtic from Israeli outfit Maccabi Petah Tikva in July 2021 and has since contributed with 29 goals and 22 assists in 112 games across all tournaments, winning five major trophies including two Premiership titles.