Liam Henderson tells of serious financial of risk leaving Celtic

By Connor Gordon

April 5, 2019

Former Celtic midfielder revealed potential liquidation didn’t stop him leaving Celtic for Bari.

The 22-year-old says he was told he might not get paid but still left Glasgow to play football.

The Scotland youth international is loving life with Hellas Verona now still in Italy.

He isn’t looking back and is only going to improve away from Scotland.

Henderson’s Dad pushed move from Celtic

Henderson revealed the trials and tribulations to move away from Parkhead abroad to Serie B.

Scotland midfielder playing for financially unstable Bari in Serie B. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

The flip-flop club were experiencing financial difficulties when they brought the midfielder in.

He told ESPN: “When I signed, they kind of told us, ‘We’re in a wee bit of bother.’ My dad said to my agent, ‘We don’t really care if he doesn’t get paid.'”

Although he featured several times under Ronny Deila and latterly Brendan Rodgers, it wasn’t enough for the developing youth.

He had a stormer of a season with Hibs, winning the Scottish Cup but still didn’t manage a Celtic spot.

Former Hibs star celebrating club’s long awaited Scottish Cup win. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

However, although his talent was known, he couldn’t displace better and more experienced midfielders.

Henderson’s Celtic career unfortunately fizzled out with him moving to Italy’s second tier.

Bari move was important for Henderson

The Italian leagues are known for financial difficulties and Bari was no different.

However, it was about playing regular first-team football that Henderson cared about more.

He said: “It was perfect. For me, it was more important to go and play for Bari. I thought, ‘If I don’t get paid, it’s life. It’s maybe going to do me a bit of good to get a bit of the real world in my career because since joining Celtic as a 12-year-old, I’ve had everything.'”

Younger brother Ewan is fighting for Celtic first-team spot. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

The Hellas Verona man hasn’t entirely lost contact with his old club as his younger brother Ewan is playing for the first-team.

He is arguably better than what his older brother was at that age and is trying to break into the first-team.

The older Henderson will need to keep his brother level headed and tell him his time will come.

If it doesn’t, Ewan can look at his brother’s journey and know it can still be okay to leave the club.