Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney reveals somebody spray-painted ‘Judas’ near his home amid abuse he suffered after leaving Celtic last summer as he admits to being ‘scared’ to return to Parkhead
- Kieran Tierney has revealed some of the abuse he suffered when leaving Celtic
- The Scottish international left Parkhead and move to Arsenal for £12.5m last year
- But Celtic fans were livid and somebody spray-painted “Judas’ near his home
- Tierney struggled in London first but has become a key player for Mikel Arteta
Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney has revealed how somebody spray-painted the word ‘Judas’ near his house after Celtic fans reacted furiously to him leaving his boyhood club last summer.
The Scotland international completed a £25million move to the Emirates Stadium just over 12 months ago and capped his first season in London by winning the FA Cup.
But his move south of the border was greeted with fierce criticism among Celtic fans with some brutally attacking the 23-year-old on social media.
Kieran Tierney has revealed somebody spray-painted ‘Judas’ near his home when he left Celtic
The Scot’s move to London was greeted with fierce criticism among Celtic fans back home
Speaking on the Keeping the Ball on the Ground Podcast, Tierney said: ‘It was just sad the way it ended. People turning and all that.
‘Some people make it out to be what it’s not and it’s not that at all.
‘Weeks before when Arsenal had bid people were like that “you’re a rat if you go, you’re terrible, you’re never a Celtic fan”.
‘I’m like “this is breaking my heart reading this” and as soon as this gets announced it’s going to blow up.
‘And the worst thing I did when it got announced was go on Twitter. Thousands of tweets, threats and all sorts.
‘When I went home two days later after signing, there was spray paint on the walls, ‘Judas’ outside my bit.’
Asked if he’d been back to Celtic Park, Tierney said: ‘No, I’m scared!’
Tierney was a mainstay of the Celtic team under Brendan Rodgers, winning four league titles
Tierney was a crucial cog in Brendan Rodgers’ side that dominated Scottish football and he played a key part in helping the club win nine consecutive league titles.
He won four league titles himself, as well as the Scottish Cup three times and the Scottish League Cup twice with Celtic, also being named PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year three years in a row.
His early progress at Arsenal was stalled by a hernia injury but he became a crucial player under Mikel Arteta in the final few months of the season.
Tierney went on to make 25 appearances in 2019-20, chalking up one goal and four assists.
Tierney made 25 appearances for Arsenal in 2019-20, winning the FA Cup at Wembley
He also went on to reveal that he was so convinced his move to Arsenal had broken down that he looked at flats to move into in the Motherwell area.
Tierney added: ‘Me and Tom Rogic were injured and he was asking if it was happening and I said “don’t think so mate”.
‘And honestly I was looking at flats round about my area because I was thinking about moving out and I’d went with my mum and my mate to go see this place and that place. This was the day before, a couple of days before.
‘And I told everybody “this is off, it’s not happening”. Then I got the call to say “Celtic have said you can go, they’ve got what they want for you”.’
