Agathe has a year left on his Celtic contract

The La Reunion-born wing-back was also quoted in Clicanoo, a newspaper in his homeland, saying Celtic blocked moves to Valencia and Juventus.

"I have never said anything like this and have no idea where it has come from," Agathe told the Celtic website.

"I'm very happy to be at Celtic and I'm looking forward to coming back for the start of the new season."

The 29-year-old wing-back was quoted saying: "I have one year left under contract but I'm moved by a deep-rooted desire to discover new horizons.

"That opportunity was there for me on two or three occasions but Celtic changed their mind at the last minute.

"There was a deal done to take me to Valencia and I thought that was cut and dried.

"As for Juventus I had actually organised my house move. More recently there was an interesting proposition from Crystal Palace.

"Now I am practically under freedom of contract and negotiations in future will be much easier."

Agathe moved to Celtic in 2000 after making an explosive impact on a short-term contract at Hibernian.

Injury curtailed much of last season for Agathe and there were only fleeting glimpses of the exciting wing play that had terrorised defences in previous campaigns.