Brendan Rodgers has no plans to sell Reo Hatate and is looking forward to seeing the midfielder get a second season playing in the Champions League.
The sudden nature of Jota’s move to Al Ittihad has illustrated that every player has their price with Hatate probably the most valuable player left at Celtic.
After 18 months in Scotland the midfielder clearly has the ability to play at a higher level but after watching him as a fan Rodgers has very definite plans for Hatate in the season ahead.
Responding to background speculation about clubs being interested in the midfielder, Rodgers told The Sun:
He’s physically very good. He’s in great physical condition, he’s quick and technically very good.
In the opening few weeks I’ve seen his tactical ideas as well. So he’s one I’m looking forward to working with more. He’s showed up well at Celtic already, scoring big goals in big games.
I can imagine there’s been interest in him because that’s always the case for good players. But he’s a player I really like and hope to help develop him further.
For every player there is always learning that takes place. We have a number of players in their early to mid 20s so there is still development for them to improve.
He’ll have gained invaluable experience from playing against the best players and best teams in the best stadiums. Going up against world-class players only helps.
I watched the Champions League games last season and Reo was excellent. Against Real Madrid at home he was very good.
These experiences just enrich you and enhance your personal development as a player. No doubt he will benefit from more of that this season
Hatate is under contract until 2026 but Jota was also on a long term deal when Al Ittihad came to the table with a huge offer.
Until he picked up an injury in March the hoops midfielder was probably a strong Player of the Year contender, without him there was a noticable dip in Celtic’s midfield creativity.
His name is Reo and he’s really FN grand,
So keep yer greedy paws away from our wee Mhan,
Maybe wee in stature but he’s got a lion’s heart,
Got skill to match and he performs performance art,
His name is Reo and he’s really FN grand,
One of the best and with the best club in Scotland,
His name is Reo and you can add your own lines here,
I’m kinda busy, need to get back tae ma beer……..
Brilliant Tic Toc ! – Get That Celtic CD album out pronto please and Tic Toc would be a grand oul name for it !!!
Reo will obviously go at some point and when he does Celtic should demand £4 million per toe for his nifty footwork among all his other attributes – but we need him next season for the most vital things…
No1 clearly is – Win The League and the trappings that come with it…
No2 Hopefully a kind draw in The Championship League, finish realistically third at best and see how we go in The Europa League – but absolutely not at the expense of losing The SPFL to MIB aided Sevco (Unless we were to win The Europa which realistically we probably won’t –
Cheers Clachnacuddin, an impossibly beautiful Scottish name which is one of my favourites along with Drumnadrochit, Ecclefechan, Glasgow and more!
Absolutely agreed the League is number 1 target and should be EVERY year, regardless of anything. It maintains our supremacy over the scum across the water, starves them of CL big bucks and makes that legal con-artist, Nimmo-Smith, regurgitate his cocoa at the thought of his words WRT extra money being “no sporting advantage” (when EBTs were illegally being used by Murray & Co to fund the dead huns obsessive attempts to win the Big Cup and equal The Celtic).
Hell FN mend them but as there’s clearly no such place, Poetic justice and Mamon FN mend them! Ach, ye get my gist. HH
(PS, need to watch ma time as we’ve a KO at 11.00 AM later today in Japan and I need some zzzzzs and more beer before that!
With the crazy transfer market as it is currently,
what if CFC was offered, say, £35M for Hatate tomorrow…?
Tough one?
WIth 2 CL campaigns under their belts, we should be expecting our best players
to leave next summer? [Except CalMac.]
…which means we have to continuously unearth the next Hatate, Kyogo, etc.
…which means we have to have quality signings this window and in January – again.
Seems like the club has the structure in place to keep the conveyor belt moving?
Bob, ……”what if CFC was offered, say, £35M for Hatate tomorrow…?”
Tell them tae shove it, he’s not for sale. End of. He’s one we need going into this campaign, no ifs or buts.
HH