Reo Hatate has informed Celtic of his desire to leave the football club this summer transfer window…
The Japanese star has had a fall from grace recently at the club where he has made his name in European football, with Martin O’Neill favouring other players over the man who had become a permanent fixture in the Hoops midfield throughout the last few years.
Brought to these shores by Ange Postecoglou in the winter transfer window of 2022, along with compatriots Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi, Hatate had many questioning whether or not he would be successful, becoming professional much later in life and also reportedly a utility player.
That myth was dispelled instantly though, as Reo hit the scene with a bang at Tynecastle – scoring a rasper of a goal from well outside the box.
He then followed that up with a man-of-the-match performance against our main rivals for the Scottish Premiership at Celtic Park, in what turned out to be a pivotal, if not seminal moment in Ange Postecoglou’s tenure as Celtic boss. Reo went from strength-to-strength in a Celtic top from there-on in, gaining plaudits from outside Scotland and becoming linked with big money moves to the English Premier League and beyond.
Sadly, it wasn’t to last, as the consistency fell away from his game and eroded slowly but surely – which could be argued happened when Postecoglou left for England with Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023.
That move seemed to have affected Hatate more than most, yet despite this, still managed to have flashes of brilliance under Brendan Rodgers at various points throughout the intervening years.
Now though, as we all suspected, Stephen McGowan at The Herald is reporting that Reo has requested a transfer out of Parkhead, with Martin O’Neill being handed a one-year-deal as Celtic manager, with the option of a further one-year extension.
That most likely solidified his waning interest in remaining at the club for the foreseeable of his contract, which runs for another two-years, until 2028.
It will now be about securing the best deal possible for all parties involved and focusing on replacing a creative talent that had the potential to be unplayable on his day. One thing that the Covid season taught us is tha there is no place in Paradise for wantaways.
All good thing must come to an end, it seems. Reo ha been a brilliant Celtic player when on his game, he can leave with his head held eye but the time is now right for a move.
Paul Gillespie
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1 Comment
Personally still think Hatate would have liked to move away last summer, but wasn’t on offer to himself imo?
Possibly why MoN didn’t use him much within our title run in, with a preference for players, who really want to play for ourselves?
Anyway, Hatate is now at an age, where his last big contract could be available to himself?
By going public upon his situation, doesn’t really allow ourselves much option, but to try and sell him?
Never believed in keeping hold of players, who aren’t really interested in giving there best for our club?
Seemed to be in operation to much last summer, and hopefully we won’t see the likes this summer?
Hard to say what price we could place upon Hatate as a player?
But still believe that he has the quality of a 10M plus player still?
Despite it not really being on show last season all the same.
Regardless of the eventual outcome upon Hatate, still would class him as a fantastic signing, especially within the value for money, for what he can produce in performance levels on his day imo?