Yesterday, an interesting article popped into my inbox. Its origins were in Italy and someone sent it to me in relation to the Scottish hacks and their stories over Lazio’s alleged interest in Dedryck Boyata. That transfer story is the kind of nonsense our media does best.
They, themselves, got it from an Italian clickbait site and splashed it all over the papers.
In other words, it’s shocking journalism they didn’t even bother to try and stand up as a real news story.
Well, last night it exploded in their faces.
Boyata, as everyone knows, is a part of Brendan’s plans.
He is over at the World Cup right now, acquitting himself well in a Belgian team which is one of the strongest sides in the competition. Our defenders have had fine tournaments up until now, and for Boyata more than any of the others this represents a high point in his career.
Celtic wants him to sign a new contract, as everyone knows.
It’s no surprise to read stories about other clubs being interested; this is what the hacks at our national newspapers do. But yesterday was interesting because clubs and their media reps almost never respond to these kind of stories, but in this case someone from Lazio has.
It might be because The Sun and other papers were actually running numbers; an alleged £1.5 million contract was being dangled before him. But as someone asked me yesterday, unless Boyata is in the final six months of his contract isn’t that tapping?
Lazio seem to think so which is why they’ve responded through the Italian press to flatly deny that any such contacts have been made, and to squash claims that they are even looking at big Dedryck. This puts that particular story to bed.
But it’s not the last time we’ll have to read this crap, of course. Dedryck is not going to sign a new deal until he returns from the World Cup, and that means we might have another week of this nonsense or longer.
I have no doubt there’s interest in him, and if I’m being honest I’d support us taking any offer of around £6 million, as the Lazio bid was described. But realistically, that’s not going to happen. I think when he gets home to Parkhead he’ll put pen to paper on a new contract.
Until he does though, we’ll get the media at its running worst.