Former Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke excited for Parkhead reunion with Braga in Europa League

Braga defender Gustaf Lagerbielke is relishing being back at Celtic Park as he dismissed any notion that his time at the club was a negative experience.

The Sweden centre-back joined the Hoops from Elfsborg in 2023 but made just 10 appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ side, all in the 2023-24 campaign.

Lagerbielke spent last season on loan with Dutch side Twente before cutting ties with the Scottish champions permanently when he was sold to Braga in July.

The 25-year-old, whose stoppage-time goal against Feyenoord in December 2023 secured the Hoops a first home win in the Champions League for a decade, has been handed a swift return to Glasgow with his Portuguese club in the Europa League.

“It feels very good, it’s nice to hear some Scottish dialect again,” Lagerbielke said as he faced the media at Celtic Park on the eve of Thursday’s clash.

“It was a good year I had here so it’s nice to be back.”

When asked to reflect on his time at Celtic and why it didn’t work out, Lagerbielke was intent on focusing on the positives.

“I think if I summarise the two years, I would say that I learned a lot, both what it means to be part of a big club like Celtic and a lot of football stuff,” he said.

“Then also in life, moving to another country and meeting new people and all of that.

“Then why it didn’t work out? I would say it depends what you mean. During my season when I played we won two titles (the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup), I met some incredible people and I learned a lot. I would say it was successful.

“The Feyenoord night was a good night. Scoring and winning (in the Champions League) for the first time in a while. Also winning the titles. Those were the biggest highlights.”

Lagerbielke left Celtic just after his fellow Sweden international Benjamin Nygren joined the Hoops in the summer.

“I think he’s a very good player,” the defender said. “He’s shown it with the national team and he’s shown it so far with Celtic. He’s also a good friend of mine so I’m happy to see that he’s been playing well here.”

Lagerbielke has swiftly established himself as a regular for Braga – currently seventh in the Primeira Liga – and has already accumulated more appearances for his new club than he managed at Celtic.

“I’m very happy here, so far in Braga everything has been very good,” he said. “Me and my girlfriend have settled in very well in life in Portugal. The club has welcomed me with open arms and the staff and the other players have been very nice. I have absolutely no complaints.”