Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers didn’t rely upon Gustaf Lagerbielke regularly last season nds he was limited to 576 minutes from 10 games.
In the summer window, Celtic allowed the centre-back to join FC Twente on a loan deal.
The Sweden international was also wanted by Malmö FF, but he rejected them to join the Dutch club. He’s made six appearances in all competitions for Twente.
On Sunday, the 24-year-old received a call up from Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson, to replace injured Isak Hien. The Celtic man has told Fotbollskanalen he’s pleased to have returned to the national team squad.
Lagerbielke left Sweden for the first time when Brendan Rodgers’ side signed him from IF Elfsborg in August 2023, and he’s now enjoying life with the Eredivisie side.
On his decision to go out on loan to Twente, he said: “I wanted to join as good a team as possible, but I also wanted to get playing time. I wanted there to be a plan for me. Twente are probably a similar to Elfsborg in the Allsvenskan.
“It’s a top team with very good supporters, but you’re a bit under the radar compared to the big clubs like Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV. That, in combination with European games, was decisive.”
Prior to Lagerbielke joining Twente, Malmö had made attempts to bring the Celtic owned player back to Sweden. The defender has explained why he turned them down.
“Yes, there was contact [with Malmö] There were good discussions, but I was clear that I didn’t want to return to Sweden,” Lagerbielke explained.
“I didn’t feel ready to move home to Sweden, regardless of the team. I wanted to give the foreign adventure a real chance. I wasn’t ready to give it up after just one season. Hopefully there are many years left until I end up in Sweden again.”
At the end of this season, Lagerbielke has to return to Celtic Park, where he has a deal until 2028. He claims there’s a “possibility” for Twente to buy him next summer.
Lagerbielke then hinted a decision on his Celtic future needs to be made in 2025.
When asked if he plans to return to Celtic, the Swede said: “There’s always that. I still have a contract there. It’s not out of the question at all. Then I’ll have to see closer to the end of the season what happens with everything. But it’s a fantastic club.”
