CHRISTOPHER JULLIEN has delivered an emotional farewell to Celtic after sealing his £850,000 move to Montpellier.
The 29-year-old Frenchman cost a club record £7million for a defender when he was signed by Neil Lennon from Toulouse in June 2019.
However, injury wrecked his Hoops career and he has played a mere 12 minutes of first-team football since a sickening collision with an upright after a goal-line clearance in the 3-0 win over Dundee United at Parkhead on December 30 2020 – just 10 days after participating in the team’s phenomenal quadruple treble success.
SHINING BRIGHT…Christopher Jullien celebrates a goal against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Jullien partnered on-loan Shane Duffy in the middle of the rearguard that claimed the Scottish Cup in a tense penalty-kick shoot-out after a 3-3 extra-time draw with Hearts at Hampden.
The towering centre-back, who has agreed a three-year contract at the Ligue 1 outfit, thanked ex-boss Lennon and assistant John Kennedy in his farewell message on Instagram – but there is no mention of Ange Postecoglou.
Jullien wrote: “Hail Hail Bhoys
“Now is the time for goodbye…
“First of all I would like to thank the fans for the warm welcome 3 years ago in Glasgow and being so honest with me through the up and downs. I liked your mentality and as you saw i gave everything on the pitch and Paradise always responded. What a crowd.
AU REVOIR…Christopher Jullien exits Celtic with the memory of a treble success.
“Some might think that I’m satisfied finishing this way, my time in the club that gave me the first championship of my career… I let them think again.
“Then I would like to thank the club for bringing me here, I came here to learn what winning mentality was and I’ve learned so much, during so many great games, so thank you to the Celtic organisation.
“Last but not least i would like to thank my teammates, so many great players, my former coaches Neil Lennon, John Kennedy and all the staff that was beside me during these 3 years.
“Once a Celtic forever a Celtic.
“COYBIG. HOOPSUPSIDEYOURHEAD4EVER”
HOOP HOOP HOORAY…Christopher Jullien races away after scoring the 2019 League Cup winner.
The highlight of Jullien’s injury-interrupted stay in Glasgow was his Betfred League Cup winner against Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side in a pulsating encounter at the national stadium in December 2019 – just a year before his career-threatening injury.
The French ace swept in a first-time effort from a Ryan Christie free-kick around the hour mark and the Hoops had to battle for half-an-hour with 10 men after Jeremie Frimpong had been red-carded by referee Willie Collum following an alleged push on Alfredo Morelos.
Fraser Forster saved the resultant penalty-kick from the Colombian frontman and it was backs-to-the-wall from the heroic keeper and Jullien and Co before the silverware was heading back to the east end of Glasgow for the fourth successive season.
A late headed winner against Lazio at a rocking Parkhead is up there, too.
The CQN team and legions of Celtic fans wish Jullien the best of fortune as he continues his career in his homeland.
