Celtic v Motherwell – Rocco Vata during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park,  Saturday April 22, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

Vata was dropped along with the other B-squad members from training with the first squad this season to settle for playing at the Lowland League level, as the Celtic Star has repeatedly stated was the case.

Because of our present lack of inventiveness and the injury crisis we’re having in the wide-forward positions, many supporters have been pleading with Brendan Rodgers to employ the starlet. However, it doesn’t seem like the young player has much of a chance because Celtic don’t seem to think the winger will stick around.

Since it was revealed that Vata is open to hearing offers from prospective suitors as he attempts to break into the professional men’s game, there has been a lot of interest in him. Prior to this, there was a lot of interest expressed by Italian teams as well. Lazio, Verona, Torino, who faced rejection on a £550,000 deal for the youngster, and Sampdoria are currently considering acquiring the player from Celtic’s B-team.

28th December 2022 Easter Road, Edinburgh, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Hibernian versus Celtic Rocco Vata on the ball. Photo ActionPlus Vagelis Georgariou

In his most recent update on the interest in the Republic of Ireland U21 cap, Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports hinted that Rocco had caught the attention of Serie A team Sampdoria. His present contract expires in the summer, and as of next month, he is free to discuss his future options with other parties. For the Hoops, who have already lost a number of young, gifted players recently, it would be a blow.

The Sky Sports reporter had earlier told the Celtic supporters that Vata had turned down a new deal with the team, but last night he fixed his mistake and supported The Celtic Star’s information, which turned out to be 100% accurate. Celtic has not extended an offer to Rocco Vata for a new contract.

James Forrest and Callum McGregor both scored today. Both are veterans of their respective fields and recent graduates of Celtic Academy. Yang was terrible in the first half of the Perth match, starting the game at right winger. An improved substitute for Rocco Vata? Not really.

Here is Joseph’s update as well as his previous tweet in which he implied that Rocco Vata was delaying his signing with Celtic. He fixed this in his report last night, but we still need to ask Celtic why they aren’t making a fresh contract offer to our top young talent.

Hibernian v Celtic –  Rocco Vata right during the cinch Premiership match at Easter Road,  Wednesday December 28, 2022. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie

“UPDATE: Celtic forward Rocco Vata has drawn interest from Sampdoria. Vata’s current contract expires in the summer, and if he signs a pre-contract next month, Celtic will be owed approximately £343,000 in compensation. It is acknowledged that Celtic has not presented Vata with a formal contract offer.