Celtic’s Gustaf Lagerbielke has told Fotbolldirekt that Brendan Rodgers’ made the decision to send him out on loan in the summer window.
The defender joined Celtic from IF Elfsborg in August 2023 and played just over 400 minutes from seven league matches last season.
He had an opportunity to go out on loan in the winter market, but Celtic weren’t keen. SC Heerenveen, KV Mechelen and Lecce wanted to sign the 24-year-old in the summer. He then ended up joining FC Twente on a loan deal.
On leaving Celtic on loan, he said: “I didn’t get much playing time at Celtic and both me and the club agreed that a loan would be very good for both parties.
“Then I considered my options and there were some clubs in many different countries. I compared the pros and cons of all of them and had meetings with different clubs. After the meeting with Twente, it felt like it was a very good ‘match’, then the choice fell on that.”
The Celtic owned player’s decision to join Twente hasn’t paid off just yet. That’s because the Sweden international is yet to make his debut for the Eredivisie side. He isn’t worried about this and remains confident of featuring regularly this season.
“It’s not something I worry about. The first period has only been about getting into the team and learning a bit. Everything is in Dutch so there is a bit of a bigger difference perhaps,” Lagerbielke explained.
“Then I got the apartment in order and tried to get into it a bit too. It has felt very good in training as well and it feels like it’s only a matter of time until I get to play, and I’m looking forward to that.”
The centre-back spent his playing career in Sweden before arriving at Celtic. Fotbolldirekt asked him ‘where would you say you are in your career now?’
Responding to that, he said: “That’s a good question. I would say I am at the top, so far. That’s how I feel about my own ability, both physically, tactically, technically, mentally and everything. I feel in a very good place.
“In terms of football, I feel like I’m at the highest level that I’ve been at in my life, then I just hope to show that on the pitch soon as well.”
Lagerbielke’s contract with Brendan Rodgers’ side lasts until 2028.
