CALLUM McGREGOR signed a new five year contract with Celtic yesterday that ties him to the Parkhead club until at least 2024.

The move ends weeks of speculation about the future of the midfielder, who was targeted by Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City in the summer, and was a huge boost to the treble treble winners ahead of their Europa League match against Lazio in Rome this evening.

McGregor spoke to the media at the Stadio Olimpico last night about why he agreed to the new deal, what he thought about the Leicester interest and his hopes for the future.

Q: You must be pleased to sign your new contract?

A: "The club have been great with me. It's a real statement from them. I have just been busy, playing football and trying to help the team. But it's good to get it over the line and get that stability for the new few years going forward. It was a no-brainer to go and sign on the dotted line.

"It's a massive point in my career and the club recognised that as well. I have a big four or five years coming up and the gaffer (Neil Lennon) has been great since he came in. He's been amazing and there has been an easy transition from last season. I am delighted to get it all done and I was really pleased the club gave me it.

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"It was a massive statement from Celtic and I do feel really valued here.  Coming from where I started, as an eight-year-old, I have been here for 18 years now. To extend that to 20-plus years would be an amazing thing.

"It shows I am well regarded at the club when they hand you a big, big contract at this point. For me, it's about trying to repay the club and keep paying well.”

Q: Did the speculation on your future pray on your mind?

A: "It wasn't really on my mind. Since the season started I have been playing every three days. I have just been focused on the games. It's been total football since June and the games are racking up. I have just been focusing on my job.”

Q: What did you think about the interest Leicester City showed in you in the summer?

A: "It's nice to get that interest. I had a good relationship with the previous manager (Brendan Rogers). He goes away and there's that link that he wants you.

"It's nice as it shows you were doing something right for the time he was here. You take it as a compliment but as soon as it passed, I have been totally focused on football. I have had a few conversations with the manager and he has been absolutely first class. I am delighted to get it done and create that stability.”

The Herald:

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Q: Was the chance to play in the Premier League not tempting for you?

A: "You obviously look at that and you see Kieran (Tierney) doing so well down at Arsenal. He's made that step and naturally, you will look at it and think 'I do fancy a bit of that at some point'.

"But, again, you take it as a compliment that you are doing your job well. We spoke about it but ultimately the decision was made to renew my contract here. I am delighted.”

Q: Did the chance to move to Leicester get put to you?

A: "Not really. You try to stay away from the talk and when you go back to pre-season, it's all about football. I was just fully focused on the football and let everything else take care of itself. I wasn't really that up or down. It was about getting fit and taking it from there.”

Q: Some players who have a chance to leave down tools and demand a transfer. Why didn’t you?

A: "I would never have done that. This club have given me so much.  I am so thankful to them for the opportunity to play football as such a massive club. It was never in my mind to get upset or anything. I have a job to do and we have had so success. I am really enjoying my football and all you want to do is get on the pitch and do you best for the club, the fans and yourself.”

The Herald:

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Q: Have you heard from Brendan Rodgers since you signed your new contract?

A: “Yeah, he texted me earlier on just to say ‘congratulations, you really deserve it’. He said he was happy for me. I just sent him a text back saying ‘thanks very much for everything you have done as well’.”

Q: Could you see yourself staying at Celtic for your entire career?

A: “Yeah, I think so. It’s a real possibility. It’s a massive statement from the club. Obviously, I really value how highly they regard me at the club as well. I think so. For me, I am certainly looking forward to the next few years. Hopefully we can extend that even further and I could end up finishing my career at Celtic.”

Q: Do you think about Celtic winning 10-In-A-Row?

A: “No, I don’t think so. We know we are in a title race this season, Rangers have been good. I think for us we just have to focus and prepare as best we can for every game and on as many fronts as we can.

“We are sitting well here in the Europa League group and we are just trying to take it step by step. That is the biggest thing our success has been built on. To come away from that and start thinking longer term is when it is going to potentially fall away. For us, the key thing is looking at every single game as they come, preparing properly and then when we go out on the pitch we give everything to win the game.”

The Herald:

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Q: Is there more to come from this Celtic side in Europe?

A: “I think so. We have touched upon it in group as well. In the last few seasons we have obviously done really well domestically. I think now it is about us trying to cut our teeth in Europe and trying to make a real statement in there as well.

“The way we have started in the group has been great. So we come here tomorrow night and if we get a positive result it gives us a real chance of going and progressing in the group. So that is something we have spoken about internally with the players, the manager and everybody else. It is important that if we come here and get a positive result we can start to look to do something in Europe.”

Q: Was Europe a factor in you deciding to stay at Celtic?

A: “I think so. It is easy to forget about how big a club you are playing at. Obviously with all of the outside press, people are quick to judge Scottish football. But to come to a stadium like this is amazing. The stadium has a capacity of over 70,000. There aren’t many teams in the world who come and play in venues like this. When you sit here you realise how lucky you are to play for a club like this. You realise you have done something right and are in a good place.”

Q: You have made 57 European appearances. Have there been many bigger than this one?

A: “I don’t think so. You look at the magnitude of the stadium, the magnitude of the club. I thought it was a great game at Celtic Park a couple of weeks ago, a great spectacle for everyone else. Then you come here and play in this nice big stadium. We will obviously look to get something from it from our own point of view. It will be a great game.”

The Herald:

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Q: Neil Lennon believes you can take over from Scott Brown as Celtic captain. Have you discussed this with your manager?

A: “We have just touched upon it. Obviously, it has become a bit more noticeable when Broony is having a rest or has come off in a couple of games or whatever. It has been passed to me.

“For me, to be playing in there alongside Broony has been a massive learning curve for me in terms of everything else, preparation, trying to help the team as well as focusing on your own game. I don’t think there’s many better to learn off than Broony. Whenever he isn’t playing I try to step in and do that job. At this point in my career you start to watch him and watch what he does.”

Q: Do you enjoy the responsibility of being captain?

A: “I think so. Obviously, everyone is different. In the last three or four years I have started to grow in confidence and stature within the club. There isn’t anybody better to be watching and learning from than Broony. I think I am enjoying it. I am trying to learn as much as I can from him so eventually, if he ever does stop playing, I can do it. But you know what he’s like. Peter Pan! He seems to be getting better every week. He is outscoring me and he has 10 years on me.”