Sead Haksabanovic, a former Celtic player, is facing backlash from his national team manager due to his decision to return to Glasgow instead of playing for Montenegro.
The 24-year-old midfielder had expressed dissatisfaction with his limited playtime under Brendan Rodgers’ management at Celtic. As a result, he secured a last-minute loan transfer to Stoke City, an English Championship side.
Haksabanovic holds significant importance for Montenegro’s national team and was expected to participate in their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Lithuania and Bulgaria. His absence from these crucial matches has not been well received by the team or its management.
Montenegrin coach Miodrag Radulovic publicly voiced his disappointment over Haksabanovic’s decision. He stated that the player informed them about fulfilling obligations related to his club transfer, which would prevent him from joining the national squad.
Player prioritizes club over country?
Radulovic further commented on how players reveal their commitment towards the national team through their decisions. In this case, Haksabanovic prioritized personal circumstances. The coach emphasized focusing only on those players who are present and willing to represent Montenegro.
Despite winning the Scottish Premiership Player of the Month award in November 2022, Haksabanovic struggled as part of Celtic’s Treble-winning team. Critics pointed out inconsistencies between his impressive performances during brief appearances and less impactful contributions when starting games.
