The Liverpool defender has spoken out on his uncertain club future amid speculation of a summer transfer to boyhood club Celtic
Andy Robertson is preparing for unchartered territory for the first time in nine years this summer. The Scotland captain has a massive decision to make over his future at Liverpool, with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.
For now, though, he is focused solely on the national team as preparations are ramped up ahead of this summer’s World Cup finals. He strolled into the media centre at Hampden Park in a relaxed manner ahead of Scotland’s first batch of pre-tournament warm-up games against Japan and Ivory Coast.
Should he feature against Japan on Saturday evening, Robertson will move joint-second in the Scotland roll of honour alongside goalkeeper Jim Leighton on 91 caps for his country. In doing so, he would also close to within 11 of matching Sir Kenny Dalglish’s record.
Andy Robertson and Kenny McLean are both likely to feature against Japan at Hampden Parkplaceholder image
Andy Robertson and Kenny McLean are both likely to feature against Japan at Hampden Park | SNS Group
Robertson hasn’t had the game time he would’ve liked for Liverpool this term. However, club future is on the backburner for now after linking back up with the national team for the first time since their historic qualification last November.
The 32-year-old kept his cards close to his chest when asked about his next steps, should he decide to leave Anfield in the coming months. One thing is for certain, though - Robertson wants his future sorted out before travelling across the Atlantic this summer.
“Will I make a decision before the World Cup? Yeah, that will definitely happen,” he said. “I will make up my mind before the summer and it’s always been in my head that I don’t want it hanging over me.
“I think that’s important, I don’t think anyone wants that and everyone would be in the same boat. If you’re out of contract and sign a new contract, or whatever you’re doing - you always want that sorted before you go into a big tournament.
“I have always worked towards and have been consistent with. It’s only eight or nine weeks, so from now until the end I’ll sit down with my family and see what we want. After that we’ll deal with whatever comes and take it from there.”
Andy Robertson addresses Celtic transfer speculation
A return north of the border to his boyhood club Celtic has been floated amid growing speculation over his future. Robertson is aware of the links but refused to get drawn on them.
“It’s not really one to talk about,” he responded. “Obviously I was at Celtic as a kid and had a season ticket, that’s not a secret. But it’s not something I really want to get into.
Andy Robertson is believed to be coming towards the end of his time at Liverpool.placeholder image
Andy Robertson is believed to be coming towards the end of his time at Liverpool. | Getty Images
“The options that are on the table for me at the minute will stay private and that’s the way I’ve always done it. People can talk and there’s been a lot of talk around it, where I’m going to go next.
“I’ve seen it but I stay away from it all now. That’s part and parcel of it, me and my wife have had a good laugh about some of it. Lets see what happens, what the next destination is and take it from there.”
Robertson praises departing Liverpool team-mate
With his current deal up at the end of June and no offer of a new contract on the table as of yet, it appears increasingly likely that Robertson will move on from Merseyside along with team-mate Mohamed Salah, who announced earlier this week that he will depart the Reds once the season has concluded.
Robertson spoke in glowing terms of a Premier League icon and revealed the pair had hoped that a friendly clash between Scotland and Egypt could have been arranged ahead of this summer’s major tournament.
“Mo and I have been close since day one, we signed in the same window,” Robertson stated. “He helped me from when I first came in. I signed from Hull and maybe didn’t have as much belief in myself as I should have.
“I saw myself in the early days as a Hull player playing against these lads instead of being a Liverpool player. There were a few people who had a big impact on me in that early stage; James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana - good people around me.
“They gave me the belief in what I could go on to achieve and Mo was a big part of that. His mentality is second to none and when you sit down with him you can dip into that.
“Every minute of every day is dedicated to football and that’s why he’s in peak condition. I’m not sure I’ve got a six-pack like him, although I’ve tried! He’s in unbelievable condition, very rarely injured and looks after himself. That mentality is what you need to be at elite level.
Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson of Liverpool departing for USA pre-season tour at Manchester Airport on July 23, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)placeholder image
Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson of Liverpool departing for USA pre-season tour at Manchester Airport on July 23, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
“We grew together. He became the best in the world and it was great to watch him. His goals bailed us out of a hole many times, he’s been fantastic for the club and amazing for the changing room. I don’t think anyone will argue with that.
“Our families sit next to each other at Anfield, the kids have grown up together. We have been through a lot of highs and lows, good and bad times. It has been a pleasure to play with him and he’s been a credit to himself and his family. He’s decided it’s time to move on and it will be a big farewell, that’s for sure.
“We wanted a game together, Scotland to play Egypt. We always joked if I was at left-back and he was on the right wing we’d be up against each other. It would be quite interesting because we don’t come up against each other much at training. I know how much Egypt means to him. We both have the same passion playing for our countries.”
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