As the January transfer window closed, all the noise was from the other side of the city and was vociferously declaring the league had already been won. The reason for this being the glittery signing of Juventus superstar Aaron Ramsey.
According to anyone who would listen this messianic midfielder would blow away Ange and his charges to leave our title bid in tatters. Kris Boyd was certainly overjoyed on Sky Sports News on deadline day was he not?
Meanwhile, Ange and Celtic had quietly gone about their business in the market; securing a triple signing from Japan at the beginning of the month. Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate arrived on these shores without much of ado being made.
Largely unknown entities over here, it was on the judgement of Ange Postecoglou that the success or failure of these players lay. With sneering and scoffing being heard everywhere in the Scottish game – much like with Kyogo – it didn’t take long for it to cease.
Hatate scored a wonder goal against Hearts and then went on to destroy the Govan side at the beginning of February. Likewise, Maeda has settled in nicely and looks as if he has played for Celtic for years. The less seen Ideguchi is still biding his time to shine in the Hoops but we’re sure it will come. Maeda, but mainly Hatate have got off to flying starts to their Celtic careers and could help fire us to the title.
Across the city, their superstar hasn’t had quite the same impact. Rarely seen due to injury, there is the sobering realisation that they may have been sold a pig in a poke. That’s exactly what pundit Gabby Agbonlahor thinks.
Speaking to Football Insider, the former Villa forward claimed that the only reason Juventus shifted the Welshman was because he is never fit and even admitted he would rather have Celtic’s Reo Hatate in his side. He said:
“Juventus let him go there because they knew exactly what would happen. They are paying the majority of his wages because they knew what would happen. Aaron Ramsey is not the Aaron Ramsey who everybody thinks he is. He’s not the same player he once was.
“(the)Rangers are now seeing that it might be the intensity of his training that has broken him down and now he’s injured. They brought him in to play games and he hasn’t. Before you know it the season will be done. The team are doing well without him, where would you even fit him in? There is a reason why Aaron Ramsey went to (the)Rangers because Juventus know he’s not the same player.
“I’d rather take the Reo Hatate at Celtic, who signed from the Japanese league, over Ramsey, all day. People think the Scottish league is an easy league to go and play in, it’s not.”
The money for all three signings from Japan cost Celtic near enough the same as what they paid for Ramsey on-loan. Stark in the unfolding outcome of the season since the January window closed. Maybe it was a secret that everyone knew but was done merely for PR purposes, who knows? But there is no denying Hatate is certainly the signing of the window for sure.
Paul Gillespie
