Rangers initial Champions League qualifier this season will present an element of divided loyalties for central defender Filip Helander.
Steven Gerrard will take his Scottish champions to Sweden next week to play Malmo in the third qualifying round, first leg, after the Allsvenskan winners elminated HJK tonight.
The Finnish side managed a credible 2-2 draw, but lost 4-3 on aggregate, overall.
Now the stage is finally set for the Gers to take on Malmo – the club where Helander made his breakthrough as a youngster and also where he intends to finish his career.
Back in January, the 27-year old was quoted on future plans, as well as stating that he was in no hurry to leave Glasgow.
On a return to Sweden, the man Rangers signed from Bologna commented:
“Anything can happen in football, but I feel good and it’s always easier when a team is doing well.”
“The hope for me is to be able to end my career in Malmo. I have talked to Pontus Jansson at Brentford about us doing it together.”
“Hopefully, I can play football for quite some time and that there is time for me to play again in the Allsvenskan as well.”
Business
As a committed professional, Helander will be giving his all for Rangers, if selected by the manager.
Sentiment will be put aside for the duration of the tie with the eagerly craved aim of Champions League football at stake.
In order to achieve that, the Swedish international and his Ibrox teammates will need to take care of Malmo first of all, before another qualifying hurdle to come.
The first leg will take place at the Eleda Stadium, Malmo with a 6pm kick-off – UK time.