Reo Hatate is not under-appreciated by Celtic support, despite pundit’s claim

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The Celtic Star

·24 avril 2025

Reo Hatate is not under-appreciated by Celtic support, despite pundit’s claim

A Clyde 1 Superscoreboard pundit reckons the Celtic support don’t appreciate Reo enough and names Hatate as the best midfielder at Celtic. Really? What’s Andy been smoking?…

Reo Hatate of Celtic inspects the pitch prior to the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Semi Final match between St Johnstone and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Reo Hatate isn’t appreciated enough by the Celtic support. That’s the view of Clyde 1 commentator Andy Halliday. The man who currently plays for Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership has had the pleasure of facing the Japanese maestro on the football pitch over the course of Reo’s time in Scotland, and revealed the belief that he’s truly a cut above the rest when it comes to midfielders.

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At times Reo can look that languid way

The Celtic fanbase has endured a somewhat tumultuous relationship with Reo Hatate at times during his tenure at Paradise, with the inconsistencies in his game raising concern now and then. In truth, at times Reo can look that languid way when playing and it can lead to him running into trouble on the half-turn continually and giving away cheap balls which the opposition then turn over and begin attacks.

Reo Hatate. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Rodgers acknowledged the incredible talent of Hatate

However, when he’s at it, he’s really at it. There’s not been many better in the number 8 role over the recent years in Celtic history and some of his moments in a hooped shirt have been sublime. Brendan Rodgers acknowledged the incredible talent of Hatate when he first arrived but left him out of the team for a spell, favouring David Turnbull instead, citing that Reo had to take better care of the ball to play in his team moving forward.

It’s a lesson that was taken on board by the Japan international and he’s been a mainstay in the team ever since. There is a general acceptance though that if he were to leave and Celtic get a decent transfer fee for him, it could well be this summer window in which he departs.

Will Hatate be looking for a move in the summer? Hopefully not

Brendan Rodgers has previously spoken about freshening up the squad to this end and with Hatate having been at the club for a few years now, he could be thinking it’s his turn to head elsewhere and seek a new adventure.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic celebrates with fellow goalscorer Reo Hatate after scoring to give Celtic a 2-0 lead. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, 12 April 2025. IMAGO Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

If that were to happen though, Halliday reckons the Celtic support would only then know what a player they had at their disposal, as he named him Man of the Match in our Scottish Cup victory over St Johnstone.

“I’m giving it to the best midfielder in the league, Reo Hatate”

Speaking on Clyde 1’s Superscoreboard, he said: “I’m giving it to the best midfielder in the league, Reo Hatate. He’s so undervalued and so underappreciated from Celtic fans to be honest with you.

“He’s one of the players that I don’t think they’ll appreciate until he’s gone and I thought he was outstanding at the weekend. I thought he was so involved in everything good that Celtic did and he leaves the pitch with three assists. The only thing that his performance was missing and that he would probably have deserved as well was a goal.”

Reo Hatate of Celtic is challenged by Dylan Levitt of Hibernian during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on March 09, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Reo included in PFA Scottish Premiership Team of the Year

Our number 41 has been included in the PFA Scottish Premiership Team of the Year alongside his fellow midfielder and club captain, Callum McGregor. Although the Motherwell man rates Calmac very highly indeed, he puts Hatate on a pedestal.

“Listen, it’s a good argument because they are two fantastic players. Callum McGregor has been doing it for so long, so it’s very hard to argue that due to the period of time that he’s been dominating that midfield area,” he said.

Reo Hatate of Celtic scores to give Celtic a 4-0 lead. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 12 April 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

“For me, I don’t think anyone else in Celtic’s team can do what Reo Hatate does, and I don’t think there’s an attribute that he doesn’t have. I think he’s so industrious off the ball and on the ball he’s so good in tight areas. He’ll run in behind, he’s unselfish, he can score a goal from outside the box, he makes darts to the back post from inside the box.

Callum McGregor. Man of the Match at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Johnstone.

“Callum McGregor’s been somebody who has been such a great servant for Celtic. He does that deep-lying midfielder role so well, which has not always been his position. But what I think he does very well when he plays that role is that he’s still so proactive and willing to get forward to join attacks.

“It’s a decent argument between both but I’m still edging towards Hatate.”

Reo Hatate is NOT under-appreciated by the Celtic support. Did you hear the huge standing ovation he received on Sunday when he was substituted? That tells you what we think of our maverick in the middle of the park, Andy.

Paul Gillespie

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