Nir Bitton in talks with new club after Celtic exit

NIR BITTON is in talks with Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The former Celtic ace is a free agent after spending nine years at the Hoops.

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He left the club with an incredible 15 winner’s medals from his time in Glasgow.

And he capped off his final season at Parkhead with a League Cup and Premiership double under Australian boss Ange Postecoglou.

Celtic announced the departure of Bitton and fellow longtime star Tom Rogic on May 13, with both players deciding to end their contracts a year early.

It was a shocking announcement for the Hoops faithful as they watched a combined 18 years of service leave Celtic Park.

And after just two weeks, the Israeli is already in talks with a return to his homeland.

Nation giants Maccabi Tel Aviv are preparing a move for the 39-cap international, according to Israeli outlet Walla.

Maccabi are considered the biggest club in Israel, winning the most league championships, 23.

Only Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa come close in terms of record, winning 14 and 12 league trophies respectively.

The Tel Aviv side are also the only team to never have been relegated from the top flight.

And Bitton’s potential new team finished third in the league last season.

This means they will take part in Conference League qualifying for next year’s campaign.

And Bitton is ready for a reunion with former Hoops teammates if he makes the switch.

Although he plays in the national team with both, he will be closer to Beram Kayal and Hatem Abd Elhamed.

Kayal currently plays for Bnei Sakhnin and Elhamed is under contract with Hapoel Beersheba – from where he originally joined Celtic.

Both teams are still in the country’s top flight.

Meanwhile, former Hoops winger Lewis Morgan feels he could have been a success under Ange Postecoglou at Parkhead.

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