Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Aberdeen - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - February 18, 2023 Celtic's Reo Hatate celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Reo Hatate has his sights set on the EPL rather than a mega-money deal in Saudi Arabia.
The Celtic midfielder has been linked with a move to Al Ittihad but it seems that he has plans to follow Ange Postecoglou rather than former team-mate Jota.
Hatate has only been playing football professionally since 2020 with his move to Celtic in January 2020 something of a leap into the unknown.
That move has been an overwhelming success for both parties with Celtic providing Champions League football following his switch from the J-League.
Another crack at the Champions League lies ahead with the 25-year-old very assured about his career plan.
Football Scotland reports:
Speaking to DAZN when asked about his future, the Japan international explained how he hopes to perhaps move to the English Premier League one day down the line, but he hopes to play at the highest level AFTER success in Glasgow.
“At a high level such as the Premier League,” he replied when asked about what could be next.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime stage, so if I can play, I’d like to take on the challenge but right now, the top priority is to do what I need to do in the team I’m in, so I’d like to do my best.”
Quizzed on the Champions League he added: “Before playing in the Champions League, it was a stage I longed for. But now I want to compete there again. I think it was a good experience.”
Matching or surpassing his form of the 2022/23 season next term will certainly bring Hatate to the attention of top EPL clubs.
Celtic have the midfielder tied into a contract that runs until 2026 and will be hoping that he follows the example of Kyogo Furuhashi by signing a second and enhanced contract with the SPFL champions.
ange ball where he has hart kicking the ball out from the back while opposing players are still in the box area won’t work for ange in the epl down , hatate has been advised wisely , ange will be gone afore christmas i reckon
Joe, FFS, your headline had me punching the air like scoring a winning goal against the original huns. You CLICKBAITER you!!
We don’t really know yet if he’ll be with us for at least another season!
I’d said to family members, after Kyogo’s new contract, “Reo, please follow suit and sign a new 4 year deal” and I thought that’s roughly what your headline meant. Of course I now know differently! How do you type a spitting noise? 🙂