Hatate Urged to Reignite Form Amid Transfer Speculation
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has issued a strong call to midfielder Reo Hatate, urging him to put any thoughts of a move away from Parkhead aside and focus on recapturing the scintillating form that once made him a coveted transfer target. The Scottish tactician’s plea comes after a challenging period for the Japanese international, marked by inconsistent performances and a recent red card that has intensified scrutiny.
Hatate’s struggles were again evident during a recent fixture where his ill-timed tackle resulted in a penalty, a moment that ultimately signalled the beginning of a difficult evening for the midfielder. While Celtic managed to secure a late 2-1 victory thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s decisive strike, after Robbie Muirhead had cancelled out Marcelo Saracchi’s opener, the incident highlighted Hatate’s current dip in form.
The midfielder has found himself grappling with his performance levels ever since being linked with a potential move to Italian side Udinese during the summer transfer window. This speculation, coupled with a needless red card received against Bologna last month, has placed significant pressure on his team selection and overall contribution. With further suggestions emerging that clubs in Brazil might also be interested in acquiring his services, O’Neill has made it clear that Hatate must now “knuckle down” and dedicate his efforts to the remainder of the current season.
O’Neill, a seasoned observer of the game, acknowledged that players often navigate periods of fluctuating form throughout a campaign. “I think players go through this over the course of a season,” he remarked. He stressed the importance of looking beyond past achievements, acknowledging Hatate’s past brilliance. “I know you can’t live in past glories, but Reo was one of the top players in the SPFL about a season and a half ago. He just has to try and regain that sort of form again.”
The manager also addressed the psychological impact of transfer speculation, noting that the closure of the transfer window should bring a sense of finality. “The window’s gone – or I thought it had gone – and that’s it until the summertime,” O’Neill stated. He drew parallels with other players who have faced similar situations, recalling the interest from German club Wolfsburg in his teammate Daizen Maeda.
“I think I mentioned the German side (Wolfsburg) were supposed to be interested in (Daizen) Maeda,” O’Neill explained. “That probably plays in your mind for a while, but he got down to it. Everybody in the transfer window thinks, “Oh, I can go here,” and then when the first or second of February comes and it’s not happening, you just have to settle down again.”
O’Neill concluded by emphasising the significant opportunities that still lie ahead for Hatate and his teammates, both on a personal level and for the club as a whole. “There is loads to play for, for them personally as much as playing for us.” The focus now must shift from potential future moves to maximising their impact and performance for Celtic in the present.
