KAA GENT today confirmed the signing of Mikael Lustig on a free transfer from Celtic.
The Swedish defender had been at Celtic since January 2012 and won 8 consecutive titles, 4 Scottish Cups and 4 League Cups during his hugely successful time in Glasgow. Earlier this week he announced his decision to leave Celtic after failing to reach an agreement with the club on a new contract.
News this morning suggests that Lustig wanted a THREE year deal while Celtic were only prepared to offer ONE year however it’s worth noting that Celtic already had a one year option on the player’s previous contract that they choose not to activate.
The Belgian side, who are involved in the Europa League this season, have a young squad and the experience and winning mentality that Lustig will bring to their side is regarded as being significant by the club’s bosses.
Välkommen Mikael Lustig! https://t.co/naM3HowuJ3
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POWER, PASSION, EXPERIENCE#kaagent #transfer #newseason— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) June 21, 2019
“Although Mikael is already 32, he has played more than 40 games for Celtic in recent seasons”, Gent’s sporting director Peter Verbeke told his club’s official website as reported on BBC.
“In addition, he is still a fixture with the Swedish national team. More importantly, he was able to convince us of his enormous drive to fully go for a new project after eight consecutive titles with Celtic.
“Mikael has a winner’s mentality and leadership qualities that our team, and certainly our youngsters, need.”
Lustig, despite the obvious disappointment at not getting the deal he wanted, handled the situation with real class – as did his wife – and they leave Glasgow with the entire Celtic Family wishing them all the best for the future. And we know he’ll be back for that Ten in a Row Party.
Perhaps though, if fixtures allow it at his new club, he could come back at the start of August, with Josefin and their girls and unfurl the flag – the 8th that he played a huge part in winning.
That would allow The Celtic support to give the Lustig’s a proper send-off that maybe could have happened at the Cup Final.
It’s time. Sooner than I was prepared for. We are moving on. Celtic and Glasgow will always be a part of us. I’m so thankful for everything and everyone over these 7.5 years. It’s taken it’s time to get used to the… https://t.co/DDahN8PZkU
— Josefin Lustig (@josefinlustig) June 20, 2019
