KELECHI IHEANACHO has revealed why he knocked back Celtic to sign a three-year deal with Turkish club Bursaspor.
Initially, it was alleged the Nigerian international striker had agreed wages of £47,000-per-week at the second-tier outfit.
However, Bursaspor president Enes Çelik has rubbished those reports and revealed the exact figures behind the deal, insisting Iheanacho earns less than half of that amount.
The club chief admitted: “Kelechi Iheanacho has a guaranteed salary agreement with us of €1.4million. We made a three-year agreement.”
SIT-DOWN STRIKER…Kelechi Iheanacho and the Scottish Cup after the Nigerian’s final appearance for Celtic at Hampden on May 23.
Converted from euros to sterling, that equates to a weekly wage of £23,000. The Hoops’ top offer apparently was in the £17,000-per-week region covering just two year for a player who will celebrate his 30th birthday in October.
Iheanacho netted nine crucial goals in Celtic’s double-winning season after joining as a free agent following his release from Sevilla in September.
Martin O’Neill made no secret he was looking forward to working with the former Manchester City and Leicester City hitman again.
However, the Parkhead powerbrokers were slow to make their move, missed the deadline in his option clause and that allowed the player’s agent to alert other interested parties.
Iheanacho has now surfaced in Turkey and insists it was the club’s long-term ambition and NOT the finances that persuaded him to sign.
DREAMLAND…Kelechi Iheanacho speaks on Bursaspor You Tube channel.
The experienced forward said: “I’m very happy to come to Bursaspor. I thank so much the President for making this possible for me to come to Bursaspor, with the help of my agent as well. I’m very happy.
“I’m really, really excited to start here.
“To be fair, Bursaspor is a big club in Turkey and I had heard that they had previously won the Turkish Super Lig.
“When I heard about their project, that they wanted to climb up to the Super Lig and also play in Europe, I said that this is a big project and it’s very good for me to come and be involved and help the team.”
Iheanacho, speaking on the club’s YouTube channel, added: “I asked my agent to make sure he does everything possible to make sure I come to Bursaspor.
“This is a big project and I hope I will be a part of it and help the team achieve this big project.”
WANT TO KNOW A SECRET? Celtic Confidential is the stunning book that brings the exclusive inside stories behind the headlines. Who was the tycoon who would have ruined Celtic? What really happened the night Kenny Dalglish quit the club? The real story behind Mo Johnston’s sensational move to Ibrox. All is revealed in Alex Gordon’s sixteenth Celtic book which is available NOW. Order a copy and get £5 OFF the cover price of £25. Just click SHOP HERE and your book will be on its way. Enjoy the revelations!
