O'Riley only joined the Seagulls last summer but hasn't been able to hold down a starting berth on the English south coast
18:28, 27 Mar 2025Updated 18:29, 27 Mar 2025
Brighton and Hove Albion's Matt O'Riley
Brighton and Hove Albion's Matt O'Riley(Image: PA)
Jamie Murphy reckons Matt O'Riley's lack of game time at Brighton could be down to a lack of faith from boss Fabian Hurzeler and believes the former Celtic star should push for a move if Roma were to come calling.
The Seagulls splashed out £25million to bring the Denmark international south of the border last summer, but despite scoring a winning goal against Manchester City earlier in the season, a combination of injuries and lack of form have restricted O'Riley to just five starts in the Premier League.
Article continues below
Serie A club Roma have been credited with an interest in the playmaker, who registered an impressive 27 goals and 35 assists in his two and a half years at Parkhead.
And ex Rangers winger Murphy - who spent three years with Brighton between 2015 and 2018 - has told O'Riley to seriously consider an exit if he can't become a regular fixture under Hurzeler.
Speaking to GO Radio, he said: "All I can think of is that the manager is just not having him.
"That can happen sometimes at teams when they sign a player.
"The scouts can do all the work and everyone can like the player and the manager says 'yes bring him in'.
Diego Gomez and Matt O'Riley
Diego Gomez and Matt O'Riley(Image: Getty Images)
"But he can then watch him train or play and he doesn't like something about him.
"I think that's probably the line he's going down and if that's the case you'd think the manager would want to move him on.
"I don't think he will be happy about not playing. having played almost every week for Celtic in the last couple of years in the Champions League and making his international debut.
"He'll want to keep that up and if there is a chance to go to a club like Roma for example, then I think you've got to take it."
Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
Article continues below
We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.