Erik Sviatchenko officially left Celtic on Monday afternoon.
John Hartson has told The Glasgow Evening Times that Erik Sviatchenko deserves credit for leaving Celtic this week.
The Danish centre-back sealed a £1 million move to Midtjylland on Monday, having spent the second half of the 2017-18 season on loan at his former club.
Hartson admits that he expected Sviatchenko to return to Celtic this summer but, with Kristoffer Ajer, Jozo Simunovic, Dedryck Boyata and Jack Hendry ahead of him in the pecking order, the Hoops legend is glad to see the 26-year-old leave instead of simply picking up an easy wage until the expiration of his contract.
He told The Glasgow Evening Times: “Rodgers might well have wanted to keep him, but the player didn’t want to sit in the stand or on the touchline. And if that’s the case, then well done him.
“It’s all too easy for some to hang about a club and pick up their wage without the pressure of actually having to play.
“Sviatchenko most probably felt he was better than a squad player and he would rather get a game every week than be a bit-part performer at a big club.”
It was indeed a smart decision by Sviatchenko. Even if linked-away Boyata and Simunovic leave Parkhead this summer, manager Brendan Rodgers will surely be signing replacements.
The writing was probably on the wall for him in January when Rodgers, after signing Marvin Compper as additional competition, sanctioned his loan to Midtjylland.
It indicated that the Northern Irish manager didn’t see a long-term future for the Ronny Deila signing in Glasgow and therefore Sviatchenko’s exit probably makes sense for all concerned.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
