Nir Bitton brands Celtic 'biggest club in Scotland' in emotional farewell message

Nir Bitton has bid an emotional farewell to Celtic as he branded them 'the biggest club in Scotland' in an online address.

The Israel international brought almost a decade at Parkhead to an end in the summer as he departed on a high after recapturing the Premiership title from rivals Rangers and also lifted the Premier Sports Cup in Ange Postecolgou's debut campaign. With that the Hoops secured a return to the biggest stage in club football as they get set for a Champions League adventure - kicking off in the group stages and avoiding the qualifying rounds.

Bitton has secured the next chapter of his career after penning a deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv. During his time time in Glasgow he won 18 major honours and signed off by taking the captain's armband in an emphatic win over Motherwell. Before kicking off his next adventure the midfielder paid a special tribute to Celtic as he vowed he will do everything he can to turn dreams into a reality at his new employers. Writing on his Instagram account, he said: "After 9 successful years at Celtic, the biggest club in Scotland and one of the biggest in the British Island and Europe, I'm coming back home - to the biggest club in Israel.

"When I went abroad, I know that I was going to realise my dream and play in a huge club, in a packed stadium, in front of an audience that was creating a crazy atmosphere, with the goal of winning as many titles as possible and reaching as many European factories as possible.

"Reality managed to exceed all expectations and I achieved quite a few goals and dreams.

"This time, I'm going back to a pretty similar reality - a huge club with a stadium that is supposed to be packed with an audience that knows how to create an atmosphere no less warm, and