Gustaf Lagerbielke's Celtic sliding doors moment revealed as forgotten man had no appetite for 'half a*****' offer

Elfsborg managing director Stefan Andreasson has revealed that Gustaf Lagerbielke came close to joining a "half-assed" team in Belgium before making his move to Celtic.

The Swede enjoyed early success in the Scottish Premiership following his move from the Allsvenskan outfit in the summer - forming a partnership with Liam Scales at the heart of the Hoops defence amid the absence of Cameron Carter-Vickers. But following the return of the US international to full fitness, the 23-year-old has struggled to even make the squad with his last appearance coming in September against Motherwell

The centre-back has struggled to even make a matchday squad in recent weeks - with Lagerbielke last included in a Premiership team line during the clash at Fir Park. He was on the bench for the Champions League double header with Atletico Madrid in recent weeks having been named in Celtic's UEFA squad list for the group stage.

Despite the likes of Liverpool loanee Nat Philipps being preferred as back-up over the £3million recruit, he has been including in the Swedish national team set-up. He scored in the Euro 2024 qualifier with Moldova and earned a call-up for the double header with Azerbaijan and Estonia.

Lagerbielke has further been recognised in his homeland after being named the Allsvenskan's defender of the season after helping Elfsborg to a title title. And at the award ceremony, Andreasson revealed that things could have been very different for the star.

Speaking to Discovery+ he said: "Gustaf had said that I can say this. We actually sat in May, when he wanted to go to a half-assed team in Belgium, and that was his dream. There are always these discussions, and he must have had people around him. 'Gustaf, you have a little