DOUBLE

Nygren splits opinion - but his dedication will ensure he reaches dizzying heights in future

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BENJAMIN NYGREN snubbed Flemming Pedersen and Nordsjaelland in favour of Flemish Belgium and Genk as a teenager.

But such was the raw ability of the Swedish playmaker, the Danes never gave up their pursuit.

After eventually getting their man in 2022 and following a slow start to life in Farum, their patience was repaid in goals and performances that saw Nygren net 35 times in 106 appearances and thrust himself onto the international stage with Sweden before winning a £1.7million move to Celtic last summer.

But even though the 24-year-old now leads the goalscoring charts at Celtic Park with the opener in Thursday's 4-2 Euro win over Utrecht his 14th of the season - Pedersen can understand why the playmaker still splits opinion among the Hoops support.

There were times where he could be marked out the game or appear to slow the game down just when Nordsjaelland were needing to go through the gears in the middle of the park.

But Pedersen says the positives far outweigh the negatives.