SO LONG, SEAD: THE PERILS OF CROSSING BRENDAN

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SEAD HAKSABANOVIC took to social media in August last year to have a go at Brendan Rodgers’ selection policy.

The Montenegrin international winger failed to start any of the opening four games of the season and posted on his Instagram page: “If they don’t see your value maybe you’re not at the right place.”

Haksabanovic never kicked another ball for the champions as he was packed off on loan to Stoke City and, according to reports in Swedish media outlet FotbollDirekt, he is now on his way to Malmo in a permanent deal.

Details are expected to be announced soon, but it looks certain the 25-year-old forward, a £1.7million buy from Russian outfit Ruben Kazan in the summer of 2022, is about to be propelled through the Parkhead exit.

His five-year deal at the club was obliterated the moment Rodgers’ attention was drawn to the social media message and the player’s fate was sealed when the Irishman admitted tersely: “I’ve had a word.”

It looks as though he may have had two words, the second of which might have been “off”.

Back in January, I stated in CQN Haksabanovic’s post was more cataclysmic than cryptic and the consequences were predictable. And so it has proved.
Ill-advisably, the Ange Postecoglou purchase must have believed it would be a reasonable idea to test the temperament of the new boss a few weeks into his return to Glasgow.
THE END IS NIGH…Sead Haksabanovic is tackled by Kilmarnock defender Lewis Mayo in Celtic’s 1-0 League Cup loss at Rugby Park in August. He was on his way after just one more appearance.
The Sweden-born flanker, who had been overlooked for the opening two matches, had made a 75th-minute substitute’s appearance in the 1-0 Viaplay League Cup loss at Kilmarnock and, a week later, he came off the bench on the hour mark in the disappointing scoreless stalemate against St Johnstone at Parkhead.
That was to prove to be the last occasion the Celtic support would witness Haksabanovic in the green and white hoops.
Four days after the player had gone public with his frustations, he was on his way to the Championship on a season-long loan.
It didn’t exactly turn out to be a dream move. Alex Neil, the former Hamilton Accies head coach who took the Swede to Stoke, was sacked before the turn of the year with the club toiling in 20th place in the table.

Haksabanovic contributed a solitary goal and two assists in 21 appearances in a distinctly underwhelming campaign as the club escaped relegation by five points.

The ill-starred wide Bhoy will be one of the first departing the champions as Rodgers kick-starts his streamlining of his squad for the new campaign.

The Hoops gaffer sold Liel Abada during the season, but he still has evergreen James Forrest, Nicolas Kuhn, Daizen Maeda, Luis Palma, Yang Hyun-jun, Marco Tilio and Mikey Johnston vying for wide positions.

Others will follow Haksabanovic.
Watch this space!
ALEX GORDON 
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