You might have missed it, Celtic supporters.
But on Tuesday evening, as Celtic were beating Cork City in a pre-season friendly in Ireland, another player headed for the exit door.
A total of seven players have left Celtic, and that number is expected to rise in the coming days and weeks, especially with the noise around Nicolas Kuhn, as Brendan Rodgers continues to reshape his squad.
And now Gustaf Lagerbielke’s exit has been confirmed after he joined Braga on a permanent basis following his loan spell at FC Twente last season.
Celtic fans react to Gustaf Lagerbielke joining Braga
Lagerbielke’s departure means Rodgers has Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Dane Murray, summer signing Hayato Inamura, Stephen Welsh and Liam Scales to pick from at centre-back.
It’s fair to say that the Celtic Park faithful aren’t happy with this, not because they probably didn’t feel Lagerbielke should have left, but because of how he was treated during his time at the club, and who is still on board.
Unfortunately, for the recently injured Welsh and Scales, they are in the spotlight from their own fans for the wrong reasons.
@MartinCainActon reacted to Lagerbielke’s exit: ‘Another good boy gone.’
@SeanPatrick_Rey took a subtle shot at Celtic’s lack of spending: ‘What’s the bank balance now £120 million?’
Stephen Welsh, look away now, as @Bryanmc67 added: ‘And yet Walsh is still around…’
@SPMS1798 criticised Celtic’s treatment of certain players: ‘The club’s treatment of some players is truly shameful.’
@JimDolan1371955 wished Lagerbielke well: ‘Good luck in your career.’
Another Celtic fan who is unhappy with how Lagerbielke was treated, as @K7ngH added: ‘Never got a chance to good luck.’
Another fan who mentioned Welsh, as @THE_ADZ_PLAYS stated: ‘But you think Welsh should stay? 🤦♂️’
@19l67 mentioned the departed Celtic defender’s goal in the Champions League: ‘That Feyenoord goal.🥲’
Another Celtic fan, @bhoy__88, mentioning Welsh, as well as Liam Scales: ‘Don’t worry bhoys we’ve still got scales and Welsh.’
@Markyboy_1989 also mentioning the call to let Nawrocki go as well: ‘Him and Nawrocki are away, but you’ve left us with the likes of Welsh? Aye, very good.’
Lagerbielke and Maik Nawrocki under Brendan Rodgers
Of course, Lagerbielke hasn’t been the only defender to depart Glasgow this summer following the exit of Maik Nawrocki.
Unlike the Swedish star, who has left for good, Nawrocki’s deal to Hannover is a loan, but the German club have the option to buy him at the end of the season.
Both players were purchased during the same summer Rodgers returned to Celtic, and the duo have hardly been seen.
- Games combined: 28
- Starts combined: 18
- Minutes combined: 1,657
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