GUSTAF LAGERBIELKE is looking forward to a double title celebration at the end of the season.
The £3million summer recruit is hoping to pick up a winner’s medal after playing 16 times for Allsvenskan leaders Elfsborg before his August switch to the Scottish champions.
And the 23-year-old centre-back, who scored his first international goal for Sweden in last night’s 3-1 friendly win over Moldova, is eager to play a part in Brendan Rodgers’ side’s bid for a twelfth crown in 13 years.
Reflecting on a whirlwind couple of months, Lagerbielke said: “I haven’t been to such a big club before. It’s a global club with a lot of fans.
HEADS I WIN…Gustaf Lagerbielke nods past Moldovan keeper Dorian Railean for his first goal for Sweden in his nation’s 3-1 friendly victory.
“There are 60,000 per match and high expectations, but it has gone well. We lead the league and there are a lot of talented players you learn from all the time.
“My girlfriend still lives in Sweden, so that’s been a bit tough.”
His former club are two points clear with four games to go as they defend their championship while the Hoops are seven ahead of their nearest challengers with their next Premiership encounter due against Hearts at Tynecastle a week on Sunday.
Quizzed if he expects to receive a title badge in the post soon, the defender answered: “I’ve asked around a bit to see if that’s the case!
“It would be nice to get a medal, even if the most important thing is that you have been involved in helping the club.
“It would be fun for the city above all and you have a lot of friends in the team, too.
“I have not dared to jinx anything and looked at a date for a title celebration, but, hopefully, there will be a gold party soon.”
SWEDE DREAMS…Gustaf Lagerbielke is looking forward to a wonderful career in Celtic’s famous hoops.
Henrik Larsson is, of course, the most famous Swede to grace the green-and-white hoops, but Lagerbielke admitted he was a bit surprised to discover how popular Mikael Lustig is with the Celtic supporters.
The new Bhoy, speaking to the local media in his homeland, continued: “I think people underestimate how big he is over there. He is one of the greats.
“He’s won a lot of titles and both he and Henrik Larsson have made Swedes very popular at Celtic.
“The first time you meet people at Celtic, they always ask if you know Lustig or if you have played against him.
“In his message he just wrote: ‘Good luck’. He also made an introduction video for their Instagram and said that a Swede is always needed in Celtic.
“Then he wrote that it was nice that I went there and that I could contact him if I had any questions so I appreciate that.
“There were a lot of messages when it was finalised, so I didn’t see it until a week later.”
DERBY DAZE…Gustaf Lagerbielke and Cyriel Desser in action during Celtic’s 1-0 win at Ibrox.
Speaking of his new life in a foreign land, Lagerbielke added: “There are many people who come out in town. When you just go shopping or go outside the door.
“It’s a different kind of life compared to what you’ve been used to before. In Sweden, there were a few children perhaps.
“But in Scotland it could be an old lady or a five-year-old boy who comes out. You notice that the interest in football there is very broad.
“Everyone is very committed. It’s fun when they come forward like that.”
