My parents couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t concentrate on football due to Russia situation says Celtic target Haksabanovic
CELTIC target Sead Haksabanovic has revealed he had to leave Russian side Rubin Kazan for the sake of his distraught family back home in Sweden.
The 23-year-old was forced to leave Russian side Rubin Kazan when the war between Ukraine and Russia kicked off as all sporting activity was suspended.
But now the incoming Celtic arrival has revealed how he was left unable to concentrate on his football as a knock-on effect of the situation around him - which had impacted his family hundreds of miles away.
He eventually returned to Sweden joining Djurgardens on loan until the end of the season as Kazan eventually found themselves relegated from the Russian top flight but now his next steps look to be taking him to Parkhead.
On the outbreak of the conflict the winger said: "In the end, the parents couldn't sleep at night and I knew that, so it made it difficult for me to sleep at night too.
"They read the news and were researching the situation even more than I was and were continually on the phone.
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"It made it almost impossible for me to focus on my football and it was a worrying time.
"Despite that, I have only praise for Rubin Kazan. They were great to me and the actual situation in the city was not any different from before the war.
"I don't regret signing for them."
One man who believes Celtic have got themselves a bargain is former Russia manager Leonard Slutsky.
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He believes that the former West Ham kid could well become one of the top midfielders in Europe as Kazan now face an impossible task in replacing him.
He said: "Sead is a very strong player and has all the attributes required to be one of the top attacking midfielders in European football.
"He's strong, very quick and has an excellent intelligence when it comes to his football brain.
"What I like about him is his versatility. He can play in the classic No.10 role, but also as a very skillful left winger. He can also easily play on the right.
"For me, he was one of the best players in Russian football. He is still young and will just get better and better.
"We would have loved to have kept him, but the situation became very difficult for him personally.
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"His parents were worried, his embassy would call him every day. It became an impossible situation.
"What I would say is that Rubin Kazan are the most impacted club in Russia when it comes to losing foreign players because Sead will be impossible to replace."
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