Liel Abada has posted on social media for the first time since he was allowed time off by Celtic, the club granted him a period of respite to gather his thoughts amid swirling speculation about his future at the club.
The Israeli winger, notably absent from the squad that clinched a Scottish Cup victory against St Mirren with a commanding 2-0 win on Sunday, courtesy of strikes from Kyogo and Daizen Maeda, has ignited discussions with his absence.
Abada’s place at Celtic has been under intense scrutiny in recent months. Following a lengthy layoff due to injury, his return to the pitch has been marred by performances that haven’t quite hit the high notes expected of him. Observers have pointed to the immense pressure from certain quarters for young talents at the Israeli FA to cut ties with Celtic, due to the vocal and visible support of Palestine by many in the Hoops supporters.
The Celtic fans have not wavered in their support for Abada, greeting his return from injury with fervent noise, a testament to their desire to see him succeed in the green and white. However, following discussions with manager Brendan Rodgers a month ago, optimism for a turnaround has been tempered, casting shadows over Abada’s tenure at the club and fuelling speculation of an impending departure come the summer.
The situation is far from ideal.
