Scotland captain’s long-term future continues to be debated
Scotland captain Andy Robertson could “chase his heart” and join his boyhood heroes Celtic, according to a Liverpool legend.
Robertson, who turns 32 on Wednesday, is out of contract at the end of the season and is widely tipped to leave Liverpool after nine years at Anfield. And former Reds striker John Aldridge believes the left-back may choose Celtic as his next destination due to his fondness for the club.
A former Celtic youth team player, Robertson joined Liverpool in 2017 from Hull City and has won nine major honours on Merseyside, including the English Premier League and Champions League. However, his place in the first team is not assured following last summer’s arrival of Milos Kerkez and he was close to joining Tottenham Hotspur back in January.
Andy Robertson's contract at Liverpool expires at the end of the season.placeholder image
Andy Robertson's contract at Liverpool expires at the end of the season. | Getty Images
Atletico Madrid have held a long-term interest in Robertson, capped 90 teams by Scotland, and there is likely to be a clamour for his services should his Liverpool career come to an end. But Aldridge says a move to Celtic cannot be discounted.
“Andy Robertson has been amazing,” said Aldridge. “I remember watching left-back Joey Jones, God rest his soul. Robbo reminds me of Joey, he puts his heart and soul into every game.
“The respect he has for himself and the ex-players is immense because he's oldie-worldie, an old-fashioned type of player. He goes through a brick wall for the manager and the fans. In the dressing room, he'd be invaluable.
Kerkez is an impediment at Liverpool
“As soon as Milos Kerkez starts to do really well, Robertson will play second fiddle. That’s just the way it works. He’s at the sort of stage of his career now, and I played till I was nearly 40.
“He just wants to play. He's an honest, working-class, good lad, and he just wants to play football. So if he's not going to play at Liverpool, I could see him wanting to leave. And unfortunately, I’d agree with him, even though I want him to stay.
“The fans love him and want him to stay. He's imperative, like a vice-captain, he's great all over the place. But you only get one life. You couldn't take away his ambition to keep on playing and maybe be a player-manager of a team in the future.
“You can see he might have that in him. So unfortunately, I think Liverpool are preparing for that. Even if Liverpool gave him a massive contract, he's not the type of player who's doing it for the money. That's the way he is.”
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Aldridge then explained why he thinks Celtic would be a good fit.
“Andy Robertson is a big Celtic fan,” continued Aldridge when speaking to BOYLE Sports. “If Celtic came knocking on the door, I think that would be wonderful for him. Celtic's always been my second team for years.
“I don't think he might get the money he could get going around the world, or by staying in the Premier League. But he's such an honest lad. It's like he's chasing his heart.
“When I played for Liverpool, that was me. He dreamed when he was young of playing for Celtic. So if that happened, that could be absolutely magnificent for him, if that's what he wanted.”