Former Celtic heroes Kyogo and Matt O’Riley are both currently discovering that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of a move away from Paradise…
Kyogo Furuhashi of Stade Rennais is pictured on the substituted bench at the Ligue 1l match between AS Saint-Etienne and Stade Rennais FC on February 08, 2025 at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne, France. Photo IMAGO
Kyogo finding it tough at Rennes
Kyogo seems to finding it tough post Celtic after failing to appear from the bench in his second listing for new club Rennes at the weekend.
Another ex Celt who also appears to be having a torrid time is Matt O’Riley who only given a few fleeting minutes in Brighton’s FA Cup win over Chelsea on Saturday.
Both players were of course treated like superstars in Glasgow, but are now seen as just another squad number in their respective teams as they watch games from the substitutes bench.
Matt O’Riley of Brighton & Hove Albion in action. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Time is still very much on their side
Don’t get me wrong both are hugely talented players, and Kyogo is only just getting used to a different culture and style of football, whilst Matt has not long returned after a bad injury. Time is still very much on their side at their new clubs but both players will never taste the same success or receive the same recognition they enjoyed while playing at Celtic.
Whilst both Rennes and Brighton and Hove Albion play in much better and financially lucrative leagues, they can never match Celtic for success and prestige, not even close.
AS SAINT-ÉTIENNE – STADE RENNAIS (0-2) – Week 21 – Ligue 1 McDonald’s 24/25 https://t.co/4gGFr9Sq6e via @YouTube
— Celtic Shorts (@celtic_shorts) February 10, 2025
New Rennes manager making his own decisions
Rennes won at St Etienne with the new manager introducing new signing of his own from the bench and starting with a new striker too. Kyogo could only sit and watch.
Both Kyogo and Matt left on good terms with the best wishes of the Celtic support and have most likely significantly boosted their bank balances, but they are finding out that the grass isn’t always necessarily greener on the other side.
Jota is emotional after he scores his first goal after rejoining Celtic, Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
No wonder Jota was crying tears of joy to be back at Celtic after a torrid 18 months away when he really did discover that the grass certainly isn’t greener.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Matt has been out injured most of his time at Brighton. Maybe he want’s to play againt better teams every week instead of one reasonble team four times a year!
And Kyogo wants to play for Japan in the world cup, sad to see him go but really hoping to see him achieve that dream by getting some recognition in another league