NafisaCeltic-linked Scott McKenna has moved to calm speculation over a potential return to Scottish football after making a clear public statement about his future at Dinamo Zagreb.
The Scotland international has been linked with a move back to the Premiership following an impressive debut season in Croatia, where he played a key role in helping Dinamo Zagreb secure both the league title and domestic cup.
McKenna, who previously played for Aberdeen, Nottingham Forest and Las Palmas, joined the Croatian side last summer and quickly made history as the first Scottish player to feature in the country’s top division.
During the course of the season, Celtic were reportedly among the clubs monitoring his situation, with suggestions that Dinamo Zagreb placed a valuation of around £10 million on the defender.
However, those hopes of a potential return to Parkhead now appear to have taken a major hit following his latest comments.
Speaking after celebrating the end of the season with teammates and supporters, McKenna made it clear that his immediate future remains in Croatia, effectively shutting down talk of a summer move.
He said via Glasgow Times: “I have a four-year contract, so I’m here for a few more years.
“I knew I was going to the World Cup, but my focus was completely on Dinamo. Now we’ve won the double and I can dedicate myself to Scotland and going to the World Cup.
“It’s been a long season and it hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve stuck together and are enjoying ourselves as a team now. I’m happy for everyone – the fans, the coaches and everyone at the club.
“It’s a crazy feeling. Of course, qualifying with Scotland was something special. We made it to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and winning the trophy with Dinamo is also a special experience.
“I enjoyed every second. There’s no better feeling than celebrating the trophy with the fans.
“There were some tough times in the first part of the season. We stuck together, the board supported the manager and we’ve been incredible since Christmas.
“We’ve been scoring a lot of goals in a lot of games and it’s been really good to watch.”
While his words will come as a disappointment to sections of the Celtic support who had hoped for a potential summer addition, McKenna’s focus now appears firmly fixed on his current club and international ambitions.
For Celtic, it is another reminder that competition for experienced defensive reinforcements in the market remains fierce, especially for players performing well abroad.
As things stand, McKenna looks set to remain in Croatia for the foreseeable future, despite continued speculation linking him with a return to Scottish football.
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