Celtic agreed to sell the striker just days before the Old Firm derby, which they won 1-0 at Celtic Park.
After two prolific seasons at Parkhead, Moussa Dembele 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:
— Moussa Dembélé (@MDembele_10) September 1, 2018
The tweet received quite the backlash from fans who hadn’t forgiven him for previous comments made about Brendan Rodgers and the club.
#HH #COYBIG 👍 pic.twitter.com/hUaHNVmBdi
— ChiChi McG (@ChiChi_tivation) September 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/Georgina87x/status/1036019295929729024
https://twitter.com/Aidan11894/status/1036015477666013184
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers didn’t seem too impressed with his former player either.
He told reporters following Celtic’s win over Rangers on Sunday that Dembele’s behaviour was “disappointing.”
Brendan Rodgers on Moussa Dembele: "The whole episode was disappointing really…" Says "A line was overstepped from a behaviour perspective."
— Ewan Murray (@mrewanmurray) September 2, 2018
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