CELTIC FC STAR WHO LEFT THE CLUB UNDER ANGE POSTECOGLOU IS ALREADY REGRETTING HIS DECISION, CLAIMING HE DOES NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE AT HIS CURRENT TEAM.

A former Celtic midfielder who departed the club during Ange Postecoglou’s early rebuild has publicly admitted he regrets his decision to leave, saying he hasn’t felt truly comfortable at any team since moving on from Glasgow.

once a key figure in Celtic’s midfield during the club’s years of dominance, made the revelation during a recent interview with Turkish media. Speaking candidly about his struggles to adapt abroad, he admitted that leaving Celtic was a decision he now views as a personal and professional mistake.

Olivier Ntcham explained that despite enjoying regular football since leaving Scotland, nothing has matched the connection, passion, and intensity he experienced while playing in front of the Celtic Park faithful.

Olivier Ntcham, the French-born Cameroon international who left Celtic in 2021 when former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou began his sweeping squad rebuild. Ntcham, who now plays for Samsunspor in the Turkish Süper Lig, told reporters he “hasn’t found the same comfort” since his departure and now realises just how special his time in Glasgow truly was.

Ntcham joined Celtic from Manchester City in 2017 and quickly established himself as one of the most talented midfielders in the Scottish Premiership. Under Brendan Rodgers, he became known for his power, precision, and composure on the ball, helping the club dominate domestic football and lift multiple league and cup titles.

But his relationship with Celtic began to deteriorate during the 2020–21 season. A mid-season loan to Marseille was intended to revive his career but turned chaotic when the club’s then-manager publicly criticised the transfer. Ntcham’s time in France ended abruptly after just four appearances.

When Postecoglou arrived to take charge in June 2021, Celtic were in transition. The Australian manager made clear he wanted players who were fully committed to his vision. Ntcham, who had become unsettled, was released from his contract that summer.

Life after Parkhead

Following his Celtic exit, Ntcham signed for Swansea City in the English Championship, making 78 appearances and scoring 12 goals across two seasons. In 2023, he joined Samsunspor in Turkey, where he has played over 60 games and continued to feature regularly for the Cameroon national team.

However, in his recent interview, Ntcham admitted that the move away from Celtic didn’t bring the satisfaction he hoped for.

“I’ve played for good clubs, but nothing compares to Celtic,” Ntcham said. “The fans, the passion, the pressure everything there was special. Since leaving, I haven’t found that same feeling anywhere. I didn’t realise at the time how much I would miss it.”

His comments have reignited debate among Celtic supporters, who remember both his brilliance on the pitch and his frustrating exit during a turbulent period for the club.

The Postecoglou rebuild

Ntcham’s departure came at a defining moment in Celtic’s modern history. Postecoglou, relatively unknown in Europe at the time, transformed a disjointed squad into a dynamic, attacking team built on commitment and unity.

The Australian coach’s decisive approach paid off immediately  reclaiming the Scottish Premiership title in his debut season and completing a domestic treble before leaving for Tottenham Hotspur in 2023. While his revolution revitalised Celtic, it left players like Ntcham behind, forced to seek their fortunes elsewhere.

Celtic fans react brutally

Despite Ntcham’s honesty, Celtic supporters haven’t been quick to forgive. On social media, many fans responded sharply to his admission, accusing him of chasing money and abandoning the club when it needed him most.

One fan wrote:

“He left us for the money, now we don’t need him.”

Another commented:

“He downed tools when things got tough. Ange did the right thing letting him go.”

A third added:

“You can’t just walk away from Celtic, then regret it when the grass isn’t greener. He made his choice.”

While a few fans acknowledged Ntcham’s talent and his memorable moments in green and white, the majority were unforgiving. For many, his attitude in his final months at Parkhead symbolised the lack of commitment Postecoglou was determined to remove.

A legacy of moments

Ntcham’s spell at Celtic was not without brilliance. Between 2017 and 2021, he made 87 league appearances, scored 13 goals, and contributed to several trophy-winning campaigns. His most iconic moment remains his stunning injury-time winner against Lazio in Rome during the 2019 Europa League a goal still celebrated by supporters as one of Celtic’s finest in recent European history.

Yet for all the talent and promise he showed, Ntcham’s own words suggest that leaving Celtic cost him something he hasn’t been able to replace — the sense of belonging and purpose that only certain clubs can provide.

Reflection and reality

At 28, Ntcham still has time to reshape his career, but his admission serves as a cautionary tale for players who underestimate what Celtic offers. The roar of 60,000 fans, the pressure to win every match, and the pride of wearing the green and white hoops those experiences, once left behind, are rarely matched elsewhere.

Celtic fans may have moved on, but for Olivier Ntcham, it seems the memories of Parkhead still linger and the realisation of what he lost may have come far too late.

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