Rubin Kazan Sporting Director Ayrat Garayev says Mubarak Wakaso was loaned out to Scottish champions Celtic because he no longer wanted to be at the club.

The Ghana international midfielder is on the verge his loan switch after just a season in the Russian top flight.

Fans of Rubin Kazan have criticized management for their decision to allow him to leave but the club say Wakaso wants to look elsewhere for regular game time.

“He wasn’t getting games and asked to be allowed to leave,” Garayev said.

“We then received the offer from Celtic, who have the advantage of playing in the Champions League.”

“We could have insisted he stay but if a player decides he wants to leave, he is not worth keeping. So we let him go.”