Exclusive: Swedish journalist Anel Advić on Celtic target Carl Starfelt

By Euan Davidson

July 7, 2021

Swedish journalist Anel Advić has revealed that Celtic first approached Rubin Kazan for Carl Starfelt weeks ago.

The Swedish international was named in reports yesterday. However, Celtic’s interest is real and has been for some time. The 26-year-old, with 3 caps for his national team, has been a regular with Rubin Kazan for two seasons. In 20-21, he played the most minutes of any player at the club [WhoScored?].

It was Advić who broke the news of Starfelt’s fee to the Celtic supporters, with a £4m price-tag set for the centre-back [Twitter].

Advić told 67 Hail Hail’s Hamish Carton:

“Starfelt joined Rubin Kazan in 2019, from IFK Goteburg. The first season [in Russia] was pretty ok, but this last couple of seasons have been really good. He’s a starting player now, coming from a really good season in Russia.

“He’s a key player there, and they extended his contract this February. He got quite a good deal. From what I heard, the plan has always been that if you extend, then maybe in the summer… [the club] can solve something and sell to a bigger league, a bigger club.

“From what I heard in the [last] couple of weeks, Celtic have shown a concrete interest. So now, I think the clubs have to find an agreement on the transfer fee. If everything [goes well] he will probably play at Celtic Park next season.”

What kind of player is Carl Starfelt?

67 Hail Hail asked for some details on Starfelt’s playing style. As an unknown quantity in Scotland, it wasn’t an obvious link to have been made. However, Advić reckons he’s a good fit for Ange Postecoglou and Celtic.

Advić said:

“He has developed [his game] in Russia. I think he’s pretty good with the ball also, but he is… a good tackler, he’s good in the air, and he reads the game very well. Also, I think he’s a very calm player. He never loses concentration, he’s very calm, and likes to play with some experience.

“He’s an interesting player.

“If I had to use an expression, [he’s] like a “modern centre-back”, who likes to play with the ball, not like the old Swedish ones who likes to kick the ball up to the strikers. He’s going to fit pretty well in the Celtic way.

“He has played the exact same way in the Swedish national team.”

Ringing up Lustig and Larsson…?

Finally, Advić told us that Starfelt will have little trouble for references. Having played alongside Mikael Lustig for Sweden, the journalist told us that Starfelt can ring around for some important info.

And his contacts book could well include a Celtic legend.

“He played with Lustig in the national team, so they know each other. Maybe he doesn’t know Henrik Larsson… but he can certainly make a call to Henke and see what he has to say. I’m pretty sure that Henke has all the best to say about Celtic and the city.”

Watch Hamish’s interview with Anel Advić here.

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