CELTIC last night accepted a Scottish record £20 million bid for Moussa Dembele from French club Lyon after their relations with the striker rapidly deteriorated following a string of controversial Twitter posts.

Brendan Rodgers was adamant the player would not be allowed to leave Parkhead despite a significant offer being received on Thursday as he had no suitable replacement lined up.

However, the 22-year-old reacted angrily to his move to the Ligue 1 outfit, who will play in the Champions League group stages this season, being blocked and took to social media to aim digs at the Scottish champions.

He wrote: “A man without his word is nothing. A real man keeps his word”. He then added: “A lie has many variations, the truth none. Careful who you call the leader of yours.”

Rodgers, whose side take on Rangers in the Ladbrokes Premiership at Celtic Park tomorrow, then asked the player to leave training at Lennoxtown yesterday afternoon after being unimpressed with his attitude and demeanour.

The Northern Irishman, who revealed that Dembele would be disciplined by the club if he had stayed, agreed to let the forward, who was signed from Fulham for just £400,000 two years ago, depart following talks with senior club officials.

The 45-year-old stressed that at no stage was the player made any told that he would be allowed to leave and expressed the view that it would have been detrimental to the harmony of the first team squad if he remained.

“Every decision we make at Celtic will always be in the best interests of the club and our supporters,” said Rodgers on the official Celtic website.

“It is vital to make clear that we have never promised any player that he can leave the club at a particular time. It has never happened.

"In fact, we have said all along that we did not wish to sell Moussa, given the circumstances within the transfer window and that is why we rejected a significant offer yesterday.

“However, this particular decision to accept this offer has been taken in order to serve the best interests of the first-team squad, my coaching team and the culture and environment we have created in these last two seasons.

“The board and myself are united and they have been very supportive to me on this issue.

“Our real focus now turns to Sunday's match and beyond, working with our players here who are committed to doing all they can to ensure another successful season for the club.

“Finally, I would like to thank Moussa for his contribution in our last two seasons and want to wish him well in his new adventure at Lyon.”

The transfer fee - £18 million up front, £2.5 million to follow and a sell-on clause – is the biggest a club in this country has ever received and beats the £13 million Celtic banked when they sold Virgil van Dijk to Southampton three years ago.

Dembele, who netted 51 goals in 94 appearances for Celtic, flew to his homeland last night to sign a five year deal with the Groupama Stadium club.