Georgios Samaras insists he is leaving Celtic against his wishes and that the Scottish champions have not offered him a new contract. Manager Neil Lennon said in January he hoped the 29-year-old Greek forward would extend his seven-year stay at the club. "It was not the manager's decision," Samaras told BBC Scotland. "It was people from on high. "I never had an offer from the club. I never had an offer from Peter Lawwell." Lennon will sit down with chief executive Lawwell in midweek to consider his summer signing targets and it appears that a replacement for Samaras will be a priority. "I'm leaving, that's for sure, but the only thing I want to say is it was not my decision," said the forward who joined Celtic from Manchester City in 2008 after a successful loan spell. "I'm a little bit sad that I'm leaving this great club." Samaras was free to speak to other clubs from the turn of the year, with his contract ending this summer, and he has been linked with several sides as speculation about his future mounted. "I did not speak during the six months," he said. "There were a lot of stories in the media, I did not answer anyone, I tried to keep my mouth shut. "I was full of respect for Celtic. I have not signed for any other club, I have not spoken to other clubs. "I was waiting until the end to see if they made me an offer, but I think that's the end. "I cannot lie to the people. I had a chat with the manager. He would have loved me to stay at the club. "But me and the gaffer, we don't make the decisions - there are people above us who make the decisions and they never approached me." Samaras marked what looks like being his final Celtic appearance by scoring a penalty in the 3-1 victory against Dundee United. He shed tears after firing past Radoslaw Cierzniak and later admitted: "It was an emotional day for me. I am leaving Celtic but Celtic will never leave me." Lennon confirmed that it looked like Samaras would not be at the club next season. Asked if it was a farewell goal, the manager said: "I'd imagine so. There's been no negotiations ongoing for the last three or four months. "He hasn't really come to me and said he's leaving, but I'm assuming that's going to be the case." Celtic midfielder Kris Commons wished Samaras well for the future and, most immediately, when representing his country in Brazil this summer. "He will be sadly missed," said the PFA Scotland and Scottish Football Writers' player of the year. "Hopefully, he'll have a good World Cup and we'll all be cheering for him."
This one bit like I do not. Also Lennon is being a bit of a **** I think. If he doesnt want samaras , just say so. If he wants to keep him but doesnt feel its affordable. just say so. If he has been told its time to punt him by pistol pete, just say so. His constant obfuscation across many issues is becoming quite tiresome.
His performance in winning Eurovision should convince us all he's worth another year. My guess is he has went in with a demand for £X and Lawwell has has said come back when your prepared to be reilistic, he's probably wanting a massive pay day as he's at this peak years and its his last chance to get one.
i have been up and down with him. a few years ago i thought he was a charlatan, then i thought he brought something to the team but as a result the team came a bit too one dimensional. i lost count of the amount of times i got ****ed off with the diagonal ball from lurch to sammi. this season he has largely been a hologram. i wish he had gone at christmas so we would have got a few quid for him
I like Samaras. I really do. But he isnt that good that we have to break the bank. There may not have been a formal offer but im led to believe a chat was had with his agent. He wanted more or the same of what was already on, which was way too good considering his value to the club. The club said no. Its a 2 way street
He changed the game yesterday Seriously, I hope we replace him with someone who has his directness, Sammy in full flow was great to watch.
He is a lying bastard. Him, ledley and stokes were all offered new deals at Christmas time. If he is trying to soften the blow of him leaving then he need not bother. Decent player when he put the effort in but you can't be that inconsistent and expect to play at the top level.
Mainly because he plainly had the talent, just not always the desire to do it. Capable of pulling moment of genius/a performance out of no where though. We wont have that when he is gone. Not enough justification to pay him whatever he was on every week though. However with him ledley, hooper and maybe even wilson off the books lately (and forster to no foubt follow) we've freed some serious wages. We wont replace with similar 'quality' imo so will be further downsizing regardless of some of being happy/content for him to go
