Carl Starfelt isn’t sure what to make of the remarks from Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers about the reason why the Sweden international defender opted to leave Celtic in the summer to sign for Spanish side Celta Vigo after two trophy laden seasons at Celtic where he became a central defensive stalwart alongside American international defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Celtic v Ross County – cinch Premiership – Celtic Park -Carl Starfelt during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Saturday August 5, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

In discussing Starfelt’s Celtic exit Rodgers suggested the there was a relationship reason – Starfelt is in a relationship with the former Celtic FC Women star Jacynta, who left the club in the summer to sign for Sporting CP in Lisbon. Starfelt wasn’t long in following her out the door at Celtic, moving to Celta Vigo who are located on the Spanish Atlantic coast just north of Portugal. The two Celtic exits are however not necessarily related, according to Starfelt.

Jacynta left Celtic in the summer to sign for Sporting CP in Lisbon

Brendan said: “Carl’s clearly in a really strong relationship and we all make decisions based on relationships or family” and that remark, clearly surprised the former Celtic defender. However Starfelt accepts that being closer to his partner and also his parents who also live in Lisbon is of course a bonus but his move to La Liga was really for footballing reasons.

Starfelt said: “It is clear that it is a plus. She and also my parents live in Lisbon, so it will be a bit closer. But above all, it was football that decided.

“It was maybe a little exaggerated, so maybe I was a little shocked (about Brendans’ comment). When you leave you get a little sentimental, even though I am convinced that I have come to enjoy myself in Spain,” Carl Starfelt admitted, as reported by Football Scotland.

Carl Starfelt of Celtic embraces teammate Cameron Carter-Vickers after the team’s victory in the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between theRangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 30, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“I will always be very grateful for my time at Celtic, you understand what a great club you have been a part of. I will look back on that when I retire, what good years I had there. I kept saying it would be something good for me to leave, and then this came up.

“They (Celta Vigo) presented a good project where they want to invest and push up the table. They’ve brought in Rafa Benitez as a manager as well, so that felt like a good move to me. He is a really good coach who has been through a lot and achieved a lot in his career. You have a lot to learn from him.

“It’s a dream I’ve had to come to a really big league,” Starfelt admitted. Whether his move was for football reasons of for personal ones doesn’t really matter. He contributed to Celtic’s successes over his time at the club and everyone associated with Celtic will wish him and also Jacynta all the best personally and for their playing careers after Celtic.

IMAGO / Shutterstock Photo by Kirk O Rourke/Shutterstock Liam Scales of Celtic clears from Cyriel Dessers of theRangers during the Scottish Premiership match at Ibrox on 03 Sep 2023

READ THIS…Celtic ‘Warrior’ Liam Scales on making life difficult for Brendan Rodgers

Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week and if you join today you will receive a Champions League Scarf.