Ruairi Daly 
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Erik Sviatchenko’s signing has created a lot of buzz around Celtic and he’s sent a strong message to opponents who think he’s soft.
The 24-year-old international centre-back put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year contract and took part in his first training session at Lennoxtown yesterday.
Sviatchenko says he rejected a number of offers from clubs in the Premier League and Europe to join Celtic for a reported fee of £1.5 million.
With four caps for his national side Denmark to his name, he sounds just like your normal footballer – but it’s his hobbies outside of the beautiful game which have raised a few eyebrows.
Outside of football, his love of fashion, art, photography and modelling could see him be on the end of some dressing room banter.
But Sviatchenko isn’t letting that get in the way of his image on the field, and gave a stark reminder to opposing striker who think he may be a bit soft.
As quoted by the Daily Express, he said:
That would be a mistake. I will kill them.
They should see me play some games because they would be surprised. Some guys like something else, I like art and fashion.
I will never be angry with anyone but when I go to the pitch I will tackle and do things that you maybe wouldn’t think. It’s not like I’m Jekyll and Hyde, but I can switch on and off. I’ve been practicing that since 2012 with my mental coach.
We have been preparing since then for a change to a bigger club.
Celtic triggered a clause in his contract on Saturday and he flew in for a medical at Celtic Park. After that, the rest was a formality for the former Midtjylland defender.
He is set to be unveiled to Hoops fans at tonight’s game against Hamilton, and it could be the first of a string of signings this month to prepare the squad for next season’s Champions League qualification.
Eric Knott 
