‘Consistency and playing time’. That is what the former Celtic man will be looking for at his new club.
And that is what he lacked, really, during a spell at the Scottish Premiership champions which can probably be best described as underwhelming.
It just hasn’t worked out on British soil.
Sead Haksabanovic left West Ham United without making a single Premier League appearance in 2020.
And, when he returned across the Channel with Celtic, far bigger things were expected of a man who’s £1.7 million move to Parkhead was seen – by his former youth coach – as the ideal next step for this ‘diamond’ of a footballer.
Haksabanovic, managing only 27 Premiership games before being farmed out on loan to Stoke City, proved to be less of a precious gem and more fool’s gold in the end.
But after securing his return to Scandinavia on Wednesday with a move to Malmo, could a man who played his best football in the Allsvenskan for IFK Norrkoping rediscover the qualities that caught Celtic’s eye in the first place?
Sead Haksabanovic leaves Celtic for Malmo
Viktor Elm, who came up against a sparkling Haksabanovic during his IFK days, certainly thinks so.
“He is a class player. He has an incredibly high top level,” Elm tells Fotbollskanalen. “Now, it’s about getting consistency and playing time.”
Malmo confirmed on their official website that Haksabanovic has signed a four-year deal.
The Montenegro international admits that he jumped at the opportunity to put pen to paper with ‘the biggest club in Sweden’ once Malmo laid out their plans for him at the Eleda Stadium.
“The way they want to play, he will also fit in well,” adds Elm, capped ten times by Sweden. “He has breakthrough, good shots, can dribble and pass.
“The question is how long it takes for him to adapt to the system, the mindset and how adaptable he is. The question is whether he can perform immediately or if it takes time.”
By Elm’s admission, he did not see this move coming. Malmo, like Celtic, are not exactly short of talented options in the wide positions.
A big disappointment at Scottish champions
“It wasn’t really in my sights,” Elm says. “They feel so strong in those positions and have a good squad, so it was a bit surprising. I suspect that they want to be incredibly strong across the board and also in Europe.
“The first thought was; ‘Why?’. But when you think deeper, you understand. There was also an opportunity, and it might not have existed six months from now.
“(Haksabanovic) has extra special qualities that allow him to decide matches. And those are the kind of players you have to have. On a good day, he can score two or three goals.
“He will make a difference in Europe.”
Haksabanovic leaves a Celtic side who appeared to have no place for him in their first-team plans. Not after Nicolas Kuhn arrived in January to add further quality in the wide positions.
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