VICTOR WANYAMA says he didn't wanted to leave Celtic for Southampton in 2013.

The Kenyan midfielder was sold for £12.5million to the Premier League outfit eight years ago after becoming a star under Neil Lennon at Parkhead.

His form on the domestic front, as well as in the Champions League, led to many suitors monitoring him closely.

Eventually Saints stumped up the cash the Hoops were looking for, as the 30-year-old went on to play 97 times for the St Mary's club before moving on to Tottenham.

The player himself has now admitted he was happy to stay put in Glasgow, but understands why Celtic had no option but to accept the major offer they received for his services. 

He told Football Scotland: "It was difficult. I personally wanted to be there but it was also a good investment for the club. It was a good business side.

"The club had to benefit to make the business side move on. I understood that.

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"I loved the club and I was really happy to continue there. But the situation didn't allow it."

Wanyama moved on to Spurs in 2016 as he followed then boss Mauricio Pochettino to north London.

Again, he made just shy of 100 appearances at White Hart Lane but struggled with injuries.

Neil Lennon made an attempt to draft his former player back in to Celtic on loan in the January 2020 transfer window, just prior to the coronavirus shutdown.

A deal couldn't be reached, with Wanyama now plying his trade at CF Montreal in the MLS.

But Wanyama insists he would love to play for Celtic again before he retires.

He added: "I had a contract at Tottenham and they were very difficult to let me go, the demands were very hard.

"Celtic was a club that I would love to play for again and again.

"It's more than a club. I enjoyed my time there.

"I honestly want to come back and give it a last go because I love the club, the people there, the fans, just everything there was great.

"They give the players everything to go on the pitch and perform. Everything was just on top.

"There was a loan approach but I don't know what happened. I didn't follow it up that much.

"I spoke to Neil [Lennon] as well and he said to me 'it's difficult with the demands' and at that time they didn't have the money to make it happen.

"But it is what it is. As I say, I still love that club. It's in my heart."