Sead Haksabanovic reveals how Celtic have fulfilled childhood Champions League dream after Larsson's seal of approval

Sead Haksabanovic used to run around as a kid pretending to be Ronaldinho in the Champions League. Now the Celtic star is savouring the opportunity of sampling the big time for real as part of the Parkhead Euro bid.

Haksabanovic could make a third Group F appearance against RB Leipzig having featured from the bench in the opener against Real Madrid and also making the starting line-up on night two for the draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in Poland.

Many of Postecoglou’s young guns are sampling the rarefied atmosphere of the elite competition and he’s amongst that fresh unit. Just as he was as an enthusiastic youngster, the Montenegro international was back at a local park running around again in the summer as he trained alone waiting patiently for a switch out of Russian club Rubin Kazan.

Haksabanvic couldn’t believe back then he’d now be going in against the continent’s biggest guns at that stage and said: “No chance. It’s a dream to play in the Champions League.

“When I was playing football as a kid, I watched the Champions League and, when I was running around playing with my friends, I would be screaming about being in the Champions League. Who was I pretending to be back then? Ronaldinho, maybe. It’s just amazing and my friends are really happy for me as well. It’s the biggest stage. It’s where everyone wants to get to.”

Haksabanovic was well versed in the traditions of Celtic even before he signed just before the close of the transfer window. Born in Sweden, the attacker is friends with Henrik Larsson’s son Jordan and recalls the success enjoyed by his dad and the likes of his countrymen Johan Mjallby and Mikael Lustig in the biggest competition.

Haksabanovic said: “I looked up to these guys a lot. Henrik’s son is my