Christopher Jullien is still stuck at Scottish Premiership champions Celtic as a proposed move to Bundesliga newcomers Schalke collapsed at the eleventh hour, as reported by Sport1.
A couple of weeks ago, one of the most expensive acquisitions in Celtic’s long history admitted that he was open to the idea of a fresh start after a season spent gathering dust on the Parkhead sidelines.
Jullien played just 16 minutes of football throughout 2021/22. That was despite the defender’s insistence that he’s been ‘100 per cent’ fit since the turn of the year.
“Sometimes (Ange Postecoglou) doesn’t name me on the bench because he prefers to take a midfielder who can play in central defence,” Jullien told Goal. “I’m unsatisfied with my playing time this season. It’s frustrating.
“I still have a year of contract here. I would like to continue but my priority is to be on the pitch. In my situation and with this playing time, that is not possible.
“If the conditions do not change, it is certain that, on my side, the door will be open to continue my career elsewhere in a club where the coach would be happy to rely on my qualities.”
Christopher Jullien’s Schalke move collapses with Celtic future uncertain
Jullien appeared to find such a club this week. After winning the Bundesliga.2 title in May, Schalke were closing in a move that would have him join one of Europe’s great underachievers. Potentially to the tune of just £1.5 million (Scottish Sun).
Fabrizio Romano even claimed that the deal was ‘done’.
But this appears to be one of those rare occasions where the all-seeing, all-knowing Romano was ever so slightly wide of the mark.
According to Sport1, Jullien will not be swapping Glasgow for Gelsenkirchen after all. His transfer has fallen through after Schalke director Rouven Schroder failed to agree on a contract with the Frenchman’s advisors.
This comes even after Jullien – who missed 12 months of football last year due to a serious knee injury – had undergone medical tests in Germany. One major hurdle seemingly cleared.
At least, in Lorient and Rennes, Jullien still has two more admirers back home in France.
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