Brendan Rodgers on Saudi chance as Celtic boss reveals megabucks Pro League opportunity 'didn't feel right'

Brendan Rodgers has sensationally revealed he rejected an opportunity to join the cash-rich Saudi Pro League.

The Celtic boss opened up on the offer just an hour before his first competitive match in charge of the Hoops second time around, in the Flag Day Scottish Premiership opener against Ross County at Parkhead. Rodgers made the revelation during an interview with Record Sport columnist and former Celtic strike hero Chris Sutton on Sky Sports.

The Irishman said: "I'd spoken to a few clubs when I left Leicester over the course of the summer but it just didn't feel right. I spoke to a team in Saudi, which didn't feel right a couple of times. Then Ange leaves and Dermot rang me and was very kind in his words, talked about the possibility of coming back. Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay then flew out to Mallorca and we had a long chat.

"It gave me real thinking then that I needed to look in to a bit more. Met up with Callum and had a really good chat with him. After that it whetted my appetite more and I thought to myself, I always wanted to come back. That was the reality for me. I never regretted leaving but I know I hurt a lot of people. I've been a Celtic man and boy, if that [first spell] was my last ever go at it, I didn't want it to be that. I wouldn't be in Scotland if it wasn't for Celtic, but it's mine. It's my people."