Watch Brendan Rodgers Celtic press conference in full as he reveals 'desperately sad' final meeting with Abada
The Hoops boss spoke to the media ahead of the Scottish Cup quarter-final clash with Livingston.
Brendan Rodgers has revealed he had a final meeting with Liel Abada at HIS house as he opened up on the 'desperately sad' situation surrounding his Celtic exit.
The Israeli arrived at Parkhead under former boss Ange Postecoglou and instantly made impact with goals and assists in his locker. He made a key contribution on the domestic stage helping the Hoops win silverware and last season lift a Treble. But it's been tough for him this season amid the ongoing conflict between his homeland and Palestine, with sections of the Hoops fans loudly supporting the Palestinian cause.
He has now left for a fee in the region of £10millon to MLS side Charlotte, who boast former Rangers star Scott Arfield in their ranks. Speaking in his media conference ahead of facing Livingston in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals this weekend, Rodgers said: "Firstly it is desperately sad the whole situation. Fantastic young player. Came in here as a 19-year-old young man into another country and lit up the field with so many fantastic goals and had a really successful period.
"Whatever doubts he had in the summer he was really happy to commit. He signed a new deal but now through no fault of his own or the clubs he's had to leave to take his career elsewhere.
"I spoke to Liel on Monday evening. We had him around the house as I knew he was probably going to be travelling the next morning. But desperately sad because I was really looking forward to working with him over a period of time to see if we could improve and develop his game.
"If you look back he has created some wonderful memories here at Celtic. I am sure Glasgow will have a big place in his heart and we wish him all the very best over in America."
Rodgers continued: "It was just meetings and feeling and conversations that I had. It was just really, really difficult for him. He was training every day, committed to his work and a top professional. But just the situation and how it evolved and developed. It felt very difficult.
"Football is a game very much of the mind and if you are not quite focused or can't put something aside - something as big as this here - it becomes very, very difficult to be at your very best, and that sadly was the case with him
"We spoke most days, just checking in and making sure he was ok. But ultimately he wants to play football and when it got to the situation where I felt there was no chance or opportunity. We both looked at it and as a club we felt the best possibility for him was to move on."
