Latest: Fabrizio Romano’s update on Celtic’s ongoing transfer talks
Rocco Vata’s contract with Celtic expires in less than a week, and there has been absolutely no update on the status of the negotiations between his representatives and the organization over a new deal.
That’s the line that Rocco’s father, former Celtic defender Rudi Vata, has frequently stated. Despite strong interest from both Italy and England, he has always said that staying at Celtic is the preferred option, but he has left the door open to go abroad.
Yesterday, Fabrizio Romano—the Italian journalist with firsthand knowledge of numerous transfers that are considered during transfer windows—posted an update regarding the Rocco Vata scenario.
Watford has begun negotiations to recruit Ireland U21 international forward Rocco Vata, the statement reads.
Celtic has also extended a contract offer to the 2005-born star; negotiations are still ongoing but no agreement has been reached yet. Vata offers from Bologna, Como, and Nottingham Forest had already been turned down.
After three teams’ unsuccessful attempts to entice Vata, maybe they will return with better offers? Watford has joined the battle, and negotiations with Celtic are ongoing.
This transfer saga has gone on forever, but hopefully next week it will be settled in some form. By the way, by the end of next month, Rudi Vata’s new book Football, Freedom and Paradise! will be out.
This is the engrossing and motivational story of a former football player who defeated government tyranny to achieve the most fundamental human right: freedom.
He was raised in Albania during the harsh communist dictatorship that dominated the nation for many years after being born there in 1969. Rudi concluded that “you do not choose to live under a dictatorship, but you choose whether to be born under one” in a system that restricted all of the fundamental liberties of a civilized society.
Rudi committed his life to football because he knew it would be his path to independence and self-determination.
He defected and sought political asylum in 1991 after representing his country while playing in France. And so started the journey that would take him all over the world to play the beautiful game and live as a free man—most notably during a prosperous period at Celtic. This is the story of a guy who battled for his independence and who, to this day, never takes it for granted. It is not just a football story.
In the coming week or so, hopefully, Rocco will sign a contract with Celtic; nevertheless, if he decides to move elsewhere, he will be expressing his freedom of choice, something his father was not allowed to do when he was his age.He must decide to stay with the team he likes if it’s Watford or Celtic, right?
