CELTIC new boy Oliver Abildgaard has been praised for his conduct at Rubin Kazan ahead of his summer switch to Parkhead.
The Danish midfielder joined the Hoops on a season-long loan in August.
He became Ange Postecoglou's second summer addition from the Russian outfit, having already signed Sead Haksabanovic earlier in the window.
Abildgaard's exit came as part of an exodus at Kazan, with UEFA sanctions hitting them in the pocket.
However, club director Oleg Yaronivsky says Kazan are "immensely grateful" to Abildgaard who refused to push for a permanent exit.
He said: “He suspended his contract and left for Celtic. We decided to make it so that in a year Rubin could get a much better offer for him.
“Or Oliver can come back and continue playing for us from next summer. Abildgaard himself was in favour of such two options and acted in a human way.
“He discussed every step with the club, because it is important for him that Rubin get as much benefit from his future as possible. We are immensely grateful to him, because he could not do any of this.”
He continued: “With Haksabanovic and Dreyer, everything was also in dialogue, it’s just that Oli in a special way categorically refused to suspend the contract at the beginning of the season.
“Although he received even fatter offers from European leagues, we heard from him: I will leave Rubin only for money. For this, he has immeasurable respect.”
