KIERAN TIERNEY will be playing in the blue and white stripes of Real Sociedad in La Liga in the new season.
You get the impression the Scotland international might just have preferred to be wearing the green and white hoops of Celtic in the Premiership.
Alas, a year-long loan deal from Arsenal for the one-time Hoops fans’ favourite was never a goer in the first place.
CQN mentioned in June it would take a massive compromise among all parties for a temporary transfer to be put in place for the left-back who quit Glasgow for London in a record Β£25million switch in the summer of 2019.
THE GOOD OLD DAZE…Brendan Rodgers and Kieran Tierney exchange smiles after another Celtic triumph.Β
At the time, it was clear Tierney, who still has three years to run on a lucrative Β£120,000-per-week contract, had no future at The Emirates and top-flight pair Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery who bought him for the Gunners, and Newcastle, with long-time admirer Eddie Howe in charge, were monitoring the situation.
The Celtic support dared to dream, but, in reality, there were so many reasons why the player would be performing elsewhere in the new campaign.
As we pointed out, the Parkhead hierarchy would have had to stump up a reasonable loan fee and a percentage of Tierney’s wages which would have proved prohibitive.
Also, the No.3 position was not viewed as a priority signing by Brendan Rodgers who had other areas to strengthen – midfield and a striker, for a start. Since that article was written two months ago, you can add the urgent requirement of another experienced centre-back after the unfortunate injuries to Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh.
THREE CHEERS…Kieran Tierney holds aloft the Scottish Cup as Celtic seal the treble treble.
Mikel Arteta’s club would also be searching for a team with the werewithall to pay something in the region of Β£30million for their player if he impressed during his loan period.
That would have been outwith Celtic’s range for the performer who won four titles and was a key member of the treble treble squad.
At 26, Tierney will now be playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues where he will most certainly attract consistent attention for potential purchasers in a year’s time.
Performing against the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will put the player in the spotlight which would not be centred on encounters against Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs or the Ibrox side.
Unfortunately, the financial chasm is such that we have to accept it and live within our means.
However, we can always dream.
π π π₯π²π’π§π ππ¨ ππ‘π π¬πππ«π¬ π«
π @kierantierney1 arrives at Real on loan from @Arsenal π#TierneyTxuriUrdin | #AurreraReala pic.twitter.com/frSngz6WWG
— Real Sociedad πΊπΈ π¬π§ (@RealSociedadEN) August 27, 2023
Good to luck to KT in Spain. Clearly, Real Sociedad are delighted to have the international defender on board as they emphasised on Twitter to welcome him to the Basque club.
It displays a rocket being launched into space and some clips of Tierney in action for Arsenal.
And you never know – the full-back may be back at Parkhead this term.
Sociedad finished fourth in La Liga last season which means Tierney will be playing Champions League football in this crusade.
Dream on…
