When Filip Benkovic spoke at the end of April about a potential return to Celtic, it was all too easy to write off his comments as wishful thinking.
A lot had changed at the Premiership champions, after all, since Benkovic was celebrating a domestic treble under Brendan Rodgers in 2018/19.
Ange Postecoglou had brought in his own centre-halves, his own style of play, and a player who once joined Leicester City for a cool £13 million no longer appeared to be an active concern for a Celtic side leaving the Rodgers era behind.
“Well, you never know in football,” Benkvic told Football Scotland when the topic of a second spell at Parkhead was brought up.
“I’ve watched a couple of (Celtic) games. I think the team is doing very well. They are playing very aggressive and attacking football. The atmosphere around the club and everything between the fans and the team is positive. (This) is very important to make a good result in the season.
“I’m hoping that they are going to win all three, the big three trophies. I’m going to watch it for sure and support it as always.”
Brendan Rodgers returns to Celtic
Celtic would, of course, complete yet another treble. Their fifth in eight years. That Scottish Cup final over Inverness, however, was the last time this Celtic side would ride into battle under Postecoglou; the straight-talking Aussie appointed as the new head coach of Tottenham Hotspur earlier in June.
But as for his replacement? Well, let’s just say that – if Benkovic does in fact harbour any hope of another stab at Celtic – then the shock Glasgow homecoming of one Brendan Rodgers should do his chances no harm.
According to the Scottish Sun, Rodgers is now ‘on the verge’ of returning to a club he left in the lurch in 2019; the bridges he took a torch to when jumping ship for Leicester City dragged back out of the rubble.
Back in familiar surroundings
An ill-timed injury wrecked Benkovic’s hopes of a key role under the 50-year-old Northern Irishman when they were reunited in the summer of 2019.
“When (Rodgers) left for Leicester, in my mind it was good because I’m coming back probably at the end of the season and he knows me,” Benkovic recalls.
“But, at the end of the season, I had this injury. I then came to pre-season injured, so that was my fault at the beginning. I came to pre-season not ready. And some of the other guys got a chance and took it.”
Fortune certainly wasn’t on Benkovic’s side back then.
Three years on, and now aged 25, could Rodgers’ return be something of a sliding doors moment? The once-capped Croatia international is once again a man in the lurch, back at parent club Udinese after a loan spell in the German second tier with Eintracht Braunschweig.
Now, with Carl Starfelt attracting interest and Stephen Welsh also facing an uncertain future, scouring the market defensive reinforcements may be one of the first tasks in Rodgers’ Celtic in-tray. Whether he opts to turn to a familiar face, however, only time will tell.
As things stand, there is nothing to suggest Benkovic will ever don the green-and-white stripes again. But, then again, few expected Rodgers to come back for a second spell either.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
