Matt O'Riley WON'T leave Celtic this month as Brendan Rodgers reveals Atletico Madrid bid booted out

Defiant Brendan Rodgers says Matt O'Riley WON'T be leaving this month amid interest from Atletico Madrid.

Atletico launched a bid for O'Riley after a stunning first half of the season that saw him score ten and assist 12 - already the best season of his career for goal involvements. He has arguably been their best player this season and La Liga leaders Girona have also been keen. But Celtic are in no rush to lose him and it would likely take a club record bid to sell him this month.

Boss Rodgers was speaking ahead of Saturday's clash with Ross County as the Premiership season returns for the league leaders. And he confirmed at his press conference O'Riley will be staying put until the end of the season.

He said: "There was that (an offer) but Matt is a player we don't want to lose. He won't be going anywhere in January. He's been absolutely brilliant.

"It's good testament to what this club can do for a player. He's had his first full international cap. Atletico Madrid is a big club in European football, but he's a big part of what we're doing here. He's someone that will be here for us for the second part of the season.

"We don't want to sell, we have no need to. We have a value of the player and certainly what has come in for Matt in the time I've been here has been nowhere near the valuation of the player and the quality he's got."

Meanwhile teammate Liam Scales meanwhile says it's no surprise to see O'Riley linked with a move away after taking his game up a level this season. And he's described the playmaker as the player of the season so far.

He said: "His ability is always going to be linked with transfers and he's always going to be linked with other clubs. I don't think that's a surprise. He's key for us, for