Former Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata has complained he is being treated like he has a ‘hyper-contagious disease’ by Club Brugge after his exile from the game.
The Belgian goalkeeper was a visitor this week for the Champions League match between his former team Celtic and his present club, appearing in the half-time draw at Parkhead.
He’s been absolutely locked out at Club Brugge, where he hasn’t played a single minute since February of this year and has been forced to practice with the younger players.
Boyata, who turned 34 this week, has reacted angrily to how the club treated him.
He explained: “Sometimes I exercise alone, sometimes with the reserves, and on a regular basis, I receive a program that I must complete at home, away from the training center. I mainly struggle with the idea that I am cut off from everything and everyone.
“They asked me to change in a small room where the cleaning team kept their belongings. I refused. I pick up my garments there and leave them in the changing room.
“And because I can only train in the afternoons, I can no longer dine at the club. They want to make sure I don’t have any touch with my teammates.
“It’s like if I have a highly contagious disease.
“What bothers me the most about this approach is that coaches have to stay later in the afternoon to train with me.” The same applies to the cleaners.
“However, the way I am handled is demeaning to me. They claim to respect me, yet their actions do not reflect this. Mentally, they attempt to undermine you. However, I continue to do whatever they want of me.
“My current circumstance is even worse than before. I don’t have any opportunities to express myself anymore. Participating in friendly matches is prohibited, as is playing with the A-team or the reserves. This way, I can’t find a new club.
“I’m not 25 anymore, and I won’t be the best player in the world, but with match practice under my belt, I can still be very valuable to clubs. Hopefully, that opportunity will arise soon.
However, Club Brugge responded to Boyata’s allegations in an interview with Belgian media. They stated: “We have been quite open about Dedryck’s status this summer – we want to find a solution together, and with the goal of finding a new club, we have allowed him to practice with the A-team all summer and even play friendly matches.
“When no club came along, we offered him two-thirds of his annual salary to become a free agent.”
“Dedryck refused that and has since then combined individual training in all professional conditions and training with the reserves five days a week.”
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