The Celtic legend thinks the now ex Hoops defender would’ve been a good asset for the Parkhead club in their quest for nine in a row.
Celtic legend Davie Hay has bemoaned Mikael Lustig’s departure, believing Neil Lennon could have done with keeping an experienced senior player like him on board and hinting that the Hoops may have made a mistake in letting him leave (Evening Times).
The Sweden right-back’s contract with the Hoops has reached its end and there appeared to be no sign of an extension, and reported interest from Belgian club Gent proved true, the player agreeing a three-year contract (BBC Sport).
Lustig spent seven-and-a-half seasons at Celtic Park, after a move from Rosenborg in Norway, winning 16 trophies with the Scottish champions and making 276 appearances for the club (BBC Sport).
Although Hay has speculated that the Bhoys did in fact offer him a two-year extension, he believes the player was offered better terms by Gent, but with him now no longer with Celtic, Hay is adamant he would have helped the team win a ninth league title in a row.
“I thought Neil Lennon could have done with keeping an experienced senior player like Mikael Lustig next season,” Hay wrote in the Evening Times. “I think that Celtic certainly offered him a contract – I believe a two season deal was on the table – but I think the Swede was looking for a better deal.
“It would have done the Scottish champions no harm at all to hang on to him for the 2019-20 campaign at least. They are short now in the right back area… (he) was, along with Scott Brown and James Forrest, the only player who has played in every one of Celtic’s eight consecutive Scottish title triumphs. He would have helped them to land a ninth.”
According to the Scottish Sun, Swedish sides AIK and Malmo were also interested in a move for Lustig, who had previously expressed his desire to return to play his home nation one day.
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