Todd Cantwell’s time at Rangers was far from smooth, particularly in the eyes of Celtic fans. Whether it was his conduct on social media or his interactions with club legend Chris Sutton, the midfielder didn’t win much favour among the Parkhead faithful.
His tenure at Ibrox came to an end this summer when he moved south to Blackburn Rovers.
The reported transfer fee, believed to be around €600,000, has raised eyebrows. Given Cantwell’s age – 26 – and his decent performances for Rangers, many might have expected a higher price tag.
Though he never truly delivered in the big moments against Celtic, his departure for a relatively modest sum seems puzzling.
Even after leaving Rangers, Cantwell has failed to endear himself to Celtic supporters.
His latest comments, seemingly referring to the Hoops as ‘the others’, have only added to the animosity. In a recent interview, the midfielder reflected on his time at Rangers, telling Sky Sports:
“Obviously during my time we didn’t get the best of ‘the others’ as much as we’d have liked to but we were building in the right direction.”
It doesn’t take much guessing to infer that Cantwell was talking about Celtic, and naturally, the remarks didn’t sit well with the fans. As one would expect, many took to social media to voice their displeasure with the midfielder’s words.
Now at Blackburn, Cantwell faces a pivotal period in his career. Once regarded as one of England’s brightest young talents, with a rumoured transfer value of £50 million at one point, the former Norwich City man has yet to live up to that early promise. Time is running out for him to prove that he can still reach those lofty heights.
Meanwhile, Celtic have their own busy schedule to focus on after the international break. Brendan Rodgers’ side will host Hearts at Celtic Park before welcoming Champions League football back to Glasgow.
The Bhoys are set to face Slovan Bratislava, and with a comparatively more manageable group this season, there is optimism that they could make a mark in Europe.
On the domestic front, the Hoops are looking to reclaim all three trophies, having missed out on the Scottish League Cup last season. With a strong squad and ambitions to succeed both at home and abroad, Celtic fans have plenty to look forward to.