Director makes ‘feeder club’ claim after Celtic targeted three of his stars

Follow us on Google Discover

Rubin Kazan’s sporting director Oleg Yarovinsky has refuted claims this the Russian side are becoming a ‘feeder club’ for Celtic after the departures of Carl Starfelt, Sead Haksabanovic and Oliver Abildgaard, speaking to MetaRatings. 

In the space of around 12 months, no fewer than three Rubin players swapped the Kazan Arena for Parkhead.

Sweden international centre-back Starfelt set the ball rolling in July 2021, joining Celtic for a cool £4 million. Former West Ham winger Sead Haksabanovic then came following in Starfelt’s footsteps; setting the Hoops back a further £1.7 million following Rubin’s relegation from the Russian top-flight. 

Danish enforcer Abildgaard completed the set on deadline day. 

Celtic have signed three players from Russian club Rubin Kazan

“It all started with the sale of Carl Starfelt last summer. Then they were interested in Haksabanovic and, in parallel, developed an interest in Abildgaard,” explains Yarovinsky.

Rubin Kazan’s sporting director, however, warns against reading too much into this rather strange situation.

“It is interesting that this is happening,” he adds. “But there is no conspiracy theory in this.”

While Starfelt and Haksabanovic are permanent members of the Celtic squad, the same cannot be said of Abildgaard. The one-time Nottingham Forest target arrived on loan, and does not have an option-to-buy clause in his contract. 

Abildgaard, Yarovinsky says, will return to Rubin when his loan spell comes to an end. 

“He suspended his contract and went to Celtic. We decided to make it so that, in a year, Rubin could get a much better offer for him,” the director explains. “Or Oliver could come back and play for us next summer.

“Abildgaard had two options and acted like a human being. He discussed every step with the club, because it is important to him that Rubin benefit as much as possible. We are immensely grateful to him.”

Having missed the entirety of pre-season, Celtic coach Ange Postecoglou is preaching patience with Abildgaard as the new signing looks to adapt to the Aussie gaffer’s famously high-speed style of play.