TONY MOWBRAY has urged the Celtic faithful not to label Marc-Antoine Fortune a money-grabber if he turns his back on Parkhead for a megabucks move to the Premiership.
The Celtic boss is still hopeful of landing the £3.8million-rated Nancy striker, despite the fact he has more lucrative offers on the table from Hull City, Portsmouth, Fulham and West Ham.
Mowbray knows the 27-year-old has had to fight his way to the top and is well aware his next move could set him up for life.
“He has some very good offers,” Mowbray admitted. “I sit here hopeful but realistic.
“If he goes elsewhere, I would say good luck to him.
“He is a good man. I wouldn’t sit here next week and say he was a money-grabber because he is a good man.
“He came into the game at 21. He played in the Dutch leagues, earning very little money and it has only been recently he has earned better money.
“If he thinks he is at a stage of his career where he needs to secure or better his future or then so be it"
Mowbray has spoken to his former West Brom loanee
on several occasions and knows he is stuck between the dilemma of
playing for Celtic or banking the riches from the English Premier
League.
“I think the boy is a bit torn at the
moment,” Mowbray admitted. “I have spoken to him a couple of times and
his first choice would be to come here and play. He is very aware of
the Celtic history and tradition.
“I would also like to say he quite likes the coach but he has more than a couple of Premier league clubs chasing him now.
“He is caught in that eternal battle of a footballing or a financial decision.
“I think it if was just down to football, then we’d win it.
“Whatever
he decides he will decide. I will not judge him because I would never
judge anyone as it is a very big decision in life.
“I have spoken to him and told him what we’re all about, the team and how I see him fitting in and opportunities he will have.
“If
he does comes here then he would be forfeiting a lot of money. He would
be giving up better options financially to come to Celtic.”
Mowbray,
who is hoping to bring in at least four new players before the end of
August, acknowledges Celtic can’t compete with even the smallest teams
in the Premiership.
Mowbray added: “I came here with my eyes wide open.
“I have just come from a Premiership team that potentially could pay more money than this club.
“There
is a substantial gap to what we can offer. We have money but I have
tried to keep to the philosophy of superstar footballers getting three
times as much as anybody else.”
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