Brendan Rodgers reveals exactly when Daizen Maeda told Celtic he wanted to leave the club

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Brendan Rodgers has addressed the situation involving Celtic forward Daizen Maeda at his Friday press conference.

Maeda revealed to Japanese media that he requested to leave the Hoops in the summer, but was denied an exit right up until deadline day.

The Japanese star is contracted to Celtic until 2027 and his performances haven’t been up to standard of late this season.

It was then reported that Maeda and Rodgers were set for crunch talks, with the manager now directly addressing the bombshell revelation at his pre-Kilmarnock presser.

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Rodgers speaks on Maeda wanting to leave Celtic

Speaking to reporters, Rodgers has revealed that Maeda first requested to leave the club in February, well before the summer transfer window.

He then conceded, however, that Celtic were not ready to sell Maeda in the summer, which is why the 27-year-old remains in Glasgow.

Rodgers said: “Daizen wanted to leave in February. I still feel that if a player wants to leave, we have to be ready for that, but we weren’t in this window.”

Adam Idah to Swansea City switch also addressed by Rodgers

In other transfer news, Rodgers was asked by reporters about the situation involving Adam Idah on transfer deadline day.

Idah left Celtic for Swansea City in a deal worth £7m, but the club failed to buy a replacement for him before the 11pm deadline.

Rodgers has stressed that Idah did not want to leave Parkhead, while the boss suggested he did not know the reason why a replacement was not signed in time.

He said: “Adam was a player who hadn’t asked to leave. Swansea wanted him around same time as other possibilities could have happened for us.

“We didn’t want to lose him. It looked as though it would be one out, one in, but that didn’t happen for whatever reason.

“Kelechi (Iheanacho) is robust and has genuine talent.”