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Football

02nd Sep 2018

Moussa Dembele receives backlash after posting emotional goodbye to Celtic fans

The striker scored 51 goals for Celtic, but was not universally loved by the fans after comments he made about the club during his time there

Reuben Pinder

Celtic agreed to sell the striker just days before the Old Firm derby

After two prolific seasons at Parkhead, Moussa Dembélé bid farewell to Celtic this week, returning to his native France as he signed for Lyon. Celtic received a fee in the region of £20m for the player who scored 51 goals in green and white.

His highlight in a hooped shirt came in an Old Firm derby, when he scored a hat-trick, confirming his hero status at the club. Although he’s evidently not idolised by all Celtic fans, judging by the reaction to his goodbye message.

After the deal between Celtic and Lyon was agreed, the striker posted an emotive goodbye message to Celtic fans on Twitter. From the way he speaks about the club, his love for the club appears to be genuine but many fans are not convinced.

“Dear Bhoys and Ghirls,” his message begins. “My journey at Celtic has come to an end and it’s time for me to embrace a new challenge.”

“My purpose was always to bring you joy and happiness,” he continues.

“You will always have a special place in my heart and I will never forget my time at Celtic, simply because you are special people.”

He goes on to declare himself the “King of Glasgow”, which rubbed some fans up the wrong way, as they responded reminding the player that no player is ever bigger than the club.

Read his message in full here.

The tweet received quite the backlash from fans who hadn’t forgiven him for previous comments made about Brendan Rodgers and the club.

https://twitter.com/Georgina87x/status/1036019295929729024

https://twitter.com/Aidan11894/status/1036015477666013184