Balde snubs prem clubs

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Bobo Balde claims leaving Celtic for Birmingham City or Middlesbrough would have been a backwards step for his career.

The Guinea international was due to be out of contract at the end of the season and the Premiership duo were both keen to sign the defender on a free transfer.

Pre-contracts were offered to the 29-year-old but Balde opted to snub the overtures from south of the border.

He concedes he was tempted by the prospect of playing in The Premiership but felt Birmingham and Boro were not viable options.

Balde then signed a contract to stay at Parkhead until 2009 and admits he saw little point in agreeing a deal with either Blues or Boro as he feels it would have been a step down from playing for the Scottish champions.

"There were a lot of reasons to stay but mainly it was a football decision," Balde told the Daily Record.

"Wherever you are in life, it's important you realise what you have and, here, I play for a big club, for a great support, I have a great contract, my family is happy and I enjoy my football. That's a lot of good things.

"Of course The Premiership was an attractive option for me because you know in that league there is the big challenge of playing against great strikers every week.

"But if I had left to go to either Middlesbrough or Birmingham, I would have been moving to a smaller club than Celtic.

"In that case, it doesn't matter if the league is better. In my mind I would still have been taking a step down.

"For me to leave Celtic for anywhere but the best clubs in England - the ones who challenge for the league every season - doesn't make sense."