Reo Hatate has reiterated his desire to play at a higher level in European football stating that he has ambitions to play in the Premier League and also in Spain or Italy.
This is of course music to the ears of the Scottish mainstream media who didn’t need much convincing to run with their Hatate wants away story.
But it’s not really a secret that Reo has ambitions to play at a higher level, and so he should, as it’s quite within his rights. And it’s no secret that Celtic has a business model that strives to sign and develop players who will then be targeted by clubs in these top leagues across Europe or even further afield as was the case with the £25m sale of Jota to Saudi Arabia.
We want players in our side who strive to play at the highest possible level, it’s only a good thing for both parties. That’s our recruitment strategy after all, bring in potential talent at a decent fee and sell them on for a massive profit, and Reo is no different.
We are a big club, and Reo will be lucky if he signs for a club as massive as us, but the truth is that leagues such as the EPL, the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A are seen as more attractive and it’s where ambitious players want to test themselves.
Reo just recently signed a new deal so the club hold all the cards, but Reo will move on maybe not this season but the next, I don’t think that will come as a shock to any of us. The biggest frustration to both his own and Celtic’s ambitions for him is his injury record which would probably make most potential buyers think twice as things stand.
The Japan international midfielder needs to stay fit and shine at Celtic this season if he is to realistically attract the kind of interest his Celtic teammate Matt O’Riley is receiving this summer.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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