Yahoo News Matt O’Riley on 'stressful' Celtic transfer exit as emotional Brighton new boy explains heart wrenching decision
Brighton recruit Matt O'Riley admits he is "still emotional" when talking about his Celtic exit after his big-money move.
But the midfielder concedes his stress levels were high with the end of the window approaching - with the Danish international admitting he was aware of the Seagull's interest for at least TWO months. The Scottish Premiership champions played hardball over their valuation of O'Riley with a series of interested suitors being knocked back - but Brighton would eventually hit the asking price and smash with Scottish transfer record with a £30million package.
O'Riley has opened up on his mindset as he watched Celtic get tough with potential suitors, telling Brighton club media: “It has definitely taken a while. It got a little bit stressful over the last couple of weeks, if I’m honest. I think the talks were ongoing for a couple of months but I’m just happy to be here now.”
Asked when he found out about the interest coming from the AMEX Stadium, O’Riley responded: “It was definitely a good while ago - I want to say two months if I’m right. I obviously spoke to the manager [Fabian Hurzeler} and he did a really good job of selling the club, and we had a really nice chat.
"He told me where I would fit in in terms of the structure and I spoke to a lot of people about the feel of the place. I got the impression that everyone was really, really nice and that is something I like being a part of.”
The move to the English Premier League brings the curtain down on the 23-year-old's. two and half years in Glasgow's east end. During his time at the Hoops, the 23-year-old lifted three Premiership titles, two Scottish Cup and the League Cup - and he admits it was a tough decision to leave Celtic Park.
Asked about the call to leave, he said: “It is hard. People don’t realise how big the club is until you get up there, It’s a real family club and I was made to feel welcome very early on.
"It’s a very unique place in terms of the passion the fans had is something I had never experienced before. I throughly enjoyed my time there. It is still a little bit emotional speaking about it because I had such good memories there, but like I said it just felt like the right time for a new challenge.”
