Callum McGregor’s Celtic future is going to be a topic for every transfer window until he actually does go.
But regardless of whether he moves to Saudi Arabia tomorrow or retires at Celtic at the age of 40, the conversation this summer should be exactly the same.
At once, McGregor is both irreplaceable and crying out to be replaced.
His consistency, leadership and experience are priceless to Celtic – but at the same time, it would be unfair and irresponsible of the club to expect a 33-year-old McGregor to keep carrying the same match load that he did five years ago.
😳 Last season was Callum McGregor’s most taxing at Celtic in seven years…
Is he being overworked by the club?
Callum McGregor’s huge contribution to Celtic
Sometimes in football we can speak about 30-plus footballers like they’re pensioners, ignoring the fact that they’re still clearly capable to instead look only at their age.
But McGregor played 5,032 minutes overall last season – a truly obscene number for any modern footballer, young or old.
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For context, this is his highest total for Celtic since the 2018-19 season, when he famously played more minutes than any other outfielder in world football.
The stat certainly vindicates his decision to retire from Scotland duty at the beginning of the 2024-25 season, allowing his body more time to recover.
Regardless, if the club want the best version of McGregor, they have to lighten this load. Life without the captain can’t be a thing of the future; it has to be a consideration now.
McGregor comes in for criticism from sections of the support for a perceived lack of physicality and positivity in possession.
Much less is said about his positional intelligence, two-footed goal threat and press-resistance, as well as the uncomfortable fact that he is still one of the team’s fastest runners across the ground.
A player with these attributes isn’t just worth eight figures; they’re frankly outwith Celtic’s price range.
If, as many fans do, Martin O’Neill wants to replace him with a more physical, defensively-thinking midfielder, be prepared for the team to become much less secure in possession.
Holding midfielders who tick as many boxes as McGregor are hard to come by. Unless Rodri fancies a few seasons in Scotland, expect a real struggle to find the elusive holding midfielder that the fans want.
For every Victor Wanyama, there are a dozen Oliver Abildgaards with Celtic’s recruitment.
What are your thoughts on Callum McGregor’s strong comments on his Celtic future?
Cameron Carter-Vickers has singled Callum McGregor out for praise
Reflecting on Celtic’s double-winning campaign last season, for most of which he was out injured, Cameron Carter-Vickers singled McGregor out for praise.
He said: “When I look back at last season, I do think Callum McGregor, the captain, was very important in that as well.
“Just the way he leads us day in, day out. He brings energy and pushes the team forward.
“But yeah, Cal and [Martin O’Neill] were really important in that season.”
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