Celtic defender Maik Nawrocki didn’t have the easiest of debut seasons at the club.
Signed from Legia Warsaw in the summer of 2023, he was heralded as a player who could come in and partner Cameron Carter-Vickers.
That was needed after the departure of Carl Starfelt, but Brendan Rodgers never quite settled on Nawrocki as an option. He ended up making just nine starts for the club.
Injuries played their part in that. Liam Scales came into the team and looked assured – certainly in the season’s early stages. Nawrocki always faced an uphill battle to become a regular.
Despite that, it seems he is intent on fighting for his place in the Celtic squad, even though his old club have sounded out his interest in a return.
Maik Nawrocki keen to stay at Celtic
Polish journalist Sebastian Staszewski of TVP Sport reported this week: “Legia were (are?) interested in loaning Maik Nawrocki from Celtic.
“Director Jacek Zieliński has contacted the defender, but he does not want to change club for now. However, if he had problems with playing regularly during the preparation period, the issue may come back.”
Still just 23, Nawrocki has room to improve at Celtic. After Liam Scales’ emergence last summer, it’d be silly to completely write him off.
If he can stay fit and involved in pre-season then Rodgers will give him a fair shot of staking a claim in the starting eleven or as the team’s primary backup.
Gustaf Lagerbielke looks a more likely candidate to leave the club this summer and if Nawrocki has Celtic motivation, fair play to him. Decisions don’t need to be made on where he plays his football next season quite yet.
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