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Former Celtic star Nir Bitton has insisted that he was not surprised to see Matt O’Riley getting a big-money move to the Premier League in the summer transfer window.
O’Riley was in very high demand by various European clubs and Brighton paid a £30m package to make him a club record signing from Celtic.
Bitton and O’Riley played half a season together before the Israeli midfielder left the Glasgow giants in the summer of 2022.
The 32-year-old insisted that as soon as he saw O’Riley play, he knew what a good player the Dane was.
Bitton stressed that he is not surprised by the big move O’Riley got to the Premier League and also wished his former team-mate luck.
“No, I’m not [surprised]”, Bitton told a press conference about the former Bhoys star.
“I played with him [O’Riley] for a year and I could immediately see that he was a really good player with a good technique.
“He was and is so smart and elegant.
“The move to Brighton is a big step and I hope he will do well in the Premier League.”
O’Riley is currently recovering from an injury and he will be looking to justify the fee involved in his switch from Celtic in the upcoming months of this season.
