Lewis Morgan admits a lack of action at Celtic was ultimately his decision behind seeking a new adventure.
Brendan Rodgers snapped up the attacker from St Mirren back in 2018 but he was often used in various positions during his time at Parkhead and suffered from injury issues.
Fast forward four years and the Scotland international is loving his new life in the USA and has made a stunning start to the new campaign.
Seven goals in just 15 appearances has his club side sitting just three points behind rivals New York City at the top of the Eastern Conference.
He netted a stunner in the recent thumping win over DC United and has adapted well to his new surroundings since his move from Inter Miami.
Despite his time at Celtic maybe not working out as planned, the 25-year-old is certain he will look back on it all at a later date with fond memories.
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Morgan has excellent self-belief and reckons he could have made a success of his time in Glasgow's east end with a sustained run in the starting eleven.
Speaking exclusively to Glasgow Live Sport, he said: "It was a big step in my career coming from St Mirren.
"I think at the time I had a few different options on the table but with Brendan Rodgers being the manager, obviously it is a massive club. I am ambitious as a football player and wanted to test myself at the highest level.
"It is well documented that I had a couple of injury problems when I was there and sometimes you just need everything to fall into place and sometimes that doesn't happen.
"It is something I am sure I will look back on with fond memories when I stop playing.
"But from a sporting side, I wanted to play more and that is what led to me trying to move on and get regular football elsewhere."
Asked if Ange Postecoglou's style of play would have suited him better, he continued: "It's tough to say. Managers come and go and the manager has come in this year and done brilliantly domestically.
"The team is playing a really good, attractive style of football.
"I also have self-belief and think I could have been a success when I was at Celtic anyway.
"Quite a lot of my time was maybe filling in at different positions. You have got to do that at a club like that with the competition for places and quality of squad we had.
"I am sure all the forward players at Celtic now love playing under [Ange] Postecoglou with his style of play.
"I am sure if I was there and had a sustained run then I could have made a success of it.
READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Lewis Morgan desperate for Scotland recall and reveals 'disappointment' at missing out
"But like I say, obviously they have come back now after a sort of dip last year and performed brilliantly and won the league.
"Hopefully both teams can carry that forward next year and with Hearts, Dundee United and Motherwell in Europe as well. I am wishing them all the very best."
Celtic will be back in the Champions League proper next season following their Scottish Premiership title success.
Rangers will be bidding to join them in the lucrative competition but face two qualifying rounds to earn a crack at Europe's elite club tournament.
They went all the way to the Europa League final this season before losing out in heartbreaking circumstances to Bundesliga cracks Frankfurt.
Scottish football has been knocked for many years on the European stage, but Rangers' stunning journey to Seville silenced many critics with Morgan hailing the 'brilliant run'.
He said: "I think for such a number of years people were saying Scottish clubs couldn't do that and Rangers have shown that is not the case.
"Especially in their home games. The fans were unbelievable.
"Celtic can hopefully recreate that and create more success for Scottish football.
"It's probably been a while since we have had both teams performing at a high level at the same time in Europe.
"Obviously Celtic for a period there when Rangers weren't in Europe were sort of carrying the flag and then Rangers more so in recent years have really done brilliantly on the European stage.
"So hopefully we can have both competing at a high level and try and get back to the days when both were playing in the Champions League.
"Rangers this year in Europe were brilliant for Scottish football.
"Unfortunately, losing in the way they did was quite tough but I think Scottish football is getting better every single year and it is good to see that.
"Next year will be exciting as well and hopefully we can have both clubs in the Champions League."
Morgan previously told Glasgow Live Sport of his desire to earn a Scotland recall.
His form for his club side has been excellent and he hopes that will impress Steve Clarke.
He's delighted to be at a New York Red Bulls side challenging at the top end of the table, but says they are just taking it one game at a time.
He said: "The team is doing well which always helps and I settled in pretty quickly.
"It's been enjoyable and it is good to be playing for a team that is competing to try and win things and that is what we are trying to do here.
"We need to take every game as it comes. It's cliché to say but we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves but on our day we are as good as any team in this league and beat anyone.
"Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, we know the potential the group has and if we perform how we can perform we can beat every team that we come up against.
"We are setting the bar high, but without putting too much pressure on ourselves or looking too far into the future."
Morgan is playing against top talents week in and week out and he reckons the US market is one that has lots of emerging stars.
Celtic have enjoyed much success under Postecoglou in the Asian market and the Scotland cap believes the Old Firm should be exploring the potential avenue.
He added: "Yes absolutely, I think you have seen that with some big European clubs.
"They have taken some younger American players from this league. There have been quite a few high-profile moves.
"I think it is a league that has grown every year. It might be tough for some of the clubs in Scotland to attract players from the MLS.
"But when you are talking about Celtic or Rangers then it is an avenue they should look at.
"I can't recall too many with Celtic but Rangers have obviously had some American players in the past.
"It is definitely a market they could look at. Celtic had great success in the Asian market and all the players that came in from there have done brilliantly.
"It's just about getting into different markets and there are definitely good players out here."
