Pat Nevin has revealed that Celtic tried three times to sign him during his career and failed each time, the last attempt being unsuccessful through a misunderstanding at the winger’s end of things…
The former Scotland international revealed how he turned Celtic down without knowing.
“Celtic came in for me three times, when I was at Chelsea and Everton, but I was under a contract. I couldn’t leave unless the club sold me,” Nevin told MyBettingSites. “I didn’t really have an option. Back then the club had the control and I felt being on a contract was like a promise. Even if Barcelona wanted me, I would have said that I was under a contract.”
“The last time Celtic came for me, it was a bit sad. I played at Tranmere, and I was told by Bolton Wanderers, who were in the Premier League, that they wanted to buy me. I told them to go through the proper channels.”
“The manager told me a week later that a club wanted me. I knew it was Bolton, so I said no. I wanted to stay. He asked me later if I wanted to know who the club was, and I said “Oh yes who is it?”
“It was Celtic… And I had turned down the club that I loved without knowing. “
I don’t regret it, as I can live a normal live today
“I don’t regret it today, I am very happy about it, because I still live in Scotland and if you played for Celtic or Rangers your life would never become normal again.”
“It will always be like half of the country doesn’t like you. Now, I can live a normal life, so in retrospect it was good for me and my family.”