Kyogo snubbed yet again by Rennes’ new manager, but I take no pleasure in his current predicament. Let’s hope he comes good, he deserves it…
Kyogo Furuhashi hasn’t had the best of starts to his Rennes career appearing for a total of just 83 minutes since his £10 million move in January, with his new club recently sacking their manager as they hover just above the relegation zone.
Yesterday he was a notable unused substitute for the third time since his move to the Ligue 1 outfit, and you would understand if the little Japanese genius was now starting to regret upping sticks to France. Rennes used all five substitutions yet Kyogo was left sitting on the bench.
Kyogo was a fantastic player for Celtic, he was a truly genuinely outstanding footballer and contributed nothing but success to our football club. He also left us with a truck load of great memories. But some supporters still have a small grievance with him (even if they don’t admit it) for leaving when he did, and some seem to be revelling in his misfortune with their ‘told you so’ attitude.
That’s entirely the wrong attitude to hold. Yes, Rennes is a step down from Celtic, and my personal view is that he would have been better served staying put at Celtic for a while longer, but that choice was Kyogo’s to make, and his alone. He will not impress the Japan head coach sitting on the bench so he has to force his way into the new manager’s plans at Rennes.
At 30 years old, he wanted to sample a new country, a new style of football, and is no doubt getting handsomely rewarded in the form of his salary, which will most likely be his last big contract in professional football. But most of all he wanted to make the Japan squad for the next World Cup, essentially his last chance to represent his country on football’s biggest stage.
And by moving aside at Celtic, Kyogo has actually opened the door for Daizen Maeda to shine through the middle at Celtic and he has done that in quite spectacular fashion both domestically and also in the Champions League, where he scored against Bayern Munich and had their players raving about him.
In leaving Celtic Kyogo was looking out for himself and that’s absolutely what he should be doing. He listened to his agent who also represents his national coach so you can see the logic in his decision to ask Celtic for a transfer. He owes Celtic nothing after all. Kyogo aside from being a great footballer is a genuinely decent human being. I for one hope he comes good and shows the Rennes supporters the quality that we all adored. He deserves nothing less.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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I know I’m not the only one who’s been following Rennes lately because of Kyogo, hopefully his chance comes soon but I still wish he waited for a move to England or Germany, at least they speak better English in Germany.