The first ball has been kicked by Celtic in preparation for the 2025/26 season.
Celtic beat Queen’s Park on Friday, with Brendan Rodgers using a mixed squad, including a fair few youngsters, as some players have just returned to Lennoxtown or will be doing so in the coming week.
One man who started pre-season with Celtic, but will now try to make a name for himself in Germany, is Maik Nawrocki.
It has been a tough road for the 24-year-old ever since he joined Celtic during the summer of 2023, including only playing 18 matches in all competitions.
But now, Nawrocki has joined Hannover 96 in Germany’s second tier, and it has got the supporters riled up on social media.
Celtic fans are unhappy that Maik Nawrocki has left
Whenever Nawrocki was handed chances by Rodgers, and you have to bear in mind they were limited, he looked good and didn’t look out of place.
Yet, time and time again, Nawrocki was benched, and now he has been allowed to leave when the club needs better quality at the heart of the defence.
It’s fair to say that the Celtic supporters simply aren’t happy and don’t understand why others in the squad, such as Liam Scales, have been allowed to stay on board, but he has left.
@DundieKing noted who should be Celtic’s starting centre-backs: ‘100% should be Rocky & CCV as our main defenders.’
@Zpeedycryptosol expressed his annoyance: ‘Coo, but you never played him.’
@PaulMcCTheCelt described the call to let Nawrocki leave as ‘insane’: ‘Insane decision! Should start alongside CCV!’
@strictly1950 wished Nawrocki luck: ‘Best wishes, Maik, hope we see you back here in a while.’
@UsideanSuibhne stated what needs to happen ‘immediately’: ‘There better be a replacement brought in immediately.’
@CharlieCol63 names the player who should have gone instead of Nawrocki: ‘Can you make it Scales instead?’
@Boaby_Wan shared what it was like to meet Nawrocki: ‘Used to see him often in the West End, seemed a genuinely nice guy, hope it goes well in Germany and then for the rest of his career. Visca Maik!’
Another Celtic fan critical of Scales, as @AllanBaxter81 added: ‘Scales will cost us in games he’s no good enough.’
@lubohenke1967 noted the treatment of Nawrocki: ‘Good luck, Maik, not sure we’ve treated the big chap well at all. Gaps galore to fill.’
@Cjbradley86 just used two words: ‘Awful decision.’
@CiaranShevlin noted the limited games Nawrocki did play for Celtic: ‘Personally thought he played great any time he was given a chance – strange that he didn’t get far more game time over last 2 seasons!’
Celtic’s centre-back options for the 2025/26 season
If you think Celtic are going to bring in another centre-back this summer, then fans better put those hopes to bed because you can’t see it happening, and new signing Hayato Inamura is Nawrocki’s replacement.
Unless one of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty or Scales heads for the exit door in these coming weeks, then Rodgers has what he wants, regardless of what others think.
It probably doesn’t fill the Celtic Park faithful with great hope, but trust the process because there is a lot of pressure on the men now tasked to play at centre-back next season.
- Cameron Carter-Vickers
- Liam Scales
- Auston Trusty
- Gustaf Lagerbielke
- Dane Murray
- Hayato Inamura
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