Boyata is now a big favourite of Rodgers at Celtic – but the former Belgium assistant doesn’t share the same admiration.
Brendan Rodgers has barely missed an opportunity to laud the progression of Dedryck Boyata in recent months. Completely excluded in the first half of the season, the burly centre-back has come out of nowhere to develop into one of the club’s key players since the turn of the year.
However, that does not mean each and every coach has been impressed by the former Manchester City youngster, the Daily Record reports.
After picking up a cruel injury which robbed him of the chance to represent his country at Euro 2016, Boyata has done everything in his power to earn a place back in the national team under Roberto Martinez.
He’s in the form of his life right now and, according to the Daily Record, Boyata turned down January approaches from Hull City, Werder Bremen and Anderlecht because he felt he had a better chance of catching Martinez’s eye at the top of the Scottish game.
He was right, too.
Yet, former Belgium assistant coach Eddy Snelders has questioned the decision to return Boyata to the international fold, highlighting the fact that the 25-year-old got the nod ahead of highly-rated Club Brugge defender Bjorn Engels.
“The selection of Boyata came to me as a big surprise,” Snelders said in quotes reported by the Daily Record.
“He’s been called up because apparently he’s done well in Scotland, but Bjorn Engels isn’t included. For me, Engels is the better player.
“Boyata is too slow for me and it would have been the ideal opportunity to try out Engels in the friendly against Russia.”
Rodgers will undoubtedly disagree.
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