Celtic hero Mikael Lustig has revealed how he almost left Celtic after only six months at the club.

The former Sweden international, who won eight league titles during his time in Glasgow, along with three consecutive trebles, had a tough start to life at Parkhead.

He opened up on how the tempo of the training was above what he was used to at the start.

Speaking to the Celtic View Podcast, he said: "I signed in 2011 in November but I had to wait until the January window to come.

"The season with Rosenborg had finished in November and I felt like I needed a month off, but if I were to go back then I would go to Glasgow right away to train for a month with the team.

"I took a couple of weeks off and I thought I would go in and they would build me up, but I went straight into training and there were better players and the tempo was higher, so my first half of a year was not good.

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"When I came back in the summer, Sevilla asked if they could buy or loan me and I felt my start here wasn’t the best so I thought maybe I should go.'

"I’m happy Neil Lennon and the staff said they wanted me and then I started to kick on in my Celtic career."

Lustig is currently promoting a night at the OVO Hydro with former team-mate and club captain Scott Brown.

The event is being advertised as a "proper goodbye" for the ex-Scotland international after he spent his last season at the club behind closed doors.

It takes place on Thursday May 18 and proceeds will be going to the Celtic FC Foundation.

Tony Hamilton, chief executive of the Foundation said: “This is set to be an outstanding event, centred around two magnificent characters in our Club’s history in Scott Brown and Mikael Lustig – and I’m excited to see more special guests announced as we approach May 18.

“We are exceptionally grateful to Shaun Ennis, Scott and Mikael for this phenomenal gesture of support to Celtic FC Foundation and it will make a substantial impact on our work as we continue to challenge poverty and promote inclusion, against a cost of living crisis backdrop. Thanks also to every supporter who joins us on the night for what is sure to be a fantastic occasion that will live long in the memory.”