Nobody can argue that Reo Hatate has been a magnificent watch at Celtic over the years.
Interestingly enough, Hatate signed for Celtic during the January transfer window of 2022 when the club was in a bit of transition under Ange Postecoglou.
Yet, fast forward to the present, and Celtic require another sea change, from top to bottom, and it could be argued that Hatate is one of the players who should head for the exit door in the summer.
The Japan star’s performances have dipped in recent times, and one man who has worked with the all-action midfielder is Darren O’Dea.
How much would you sell Reo Hatate for?
Darren O’Dea on working with Reo Hatate at Celtic
Celtic recorded a 2-2 draw against Bologna in the Europa League on Thursday night to keep up their hopes of securing a play-off spot.
Hatate was sent off during that game, as O’Dea spoke about the midfielder as somebody whose top level is ‘seriously high.’
But O’Dea told Go Radio that Hatate’s ‘biggest challenge’ is his ‘consistency’, and that’s the ‘biggest question mark over his head’, as he plans what to do next in his career.
Paul Cooney: “Hatate, of course, there has been a bit of criticism. He is a brilliant player. He has done wonderfully well for Celtic.
“You do sense that it’s maybe time that he would want to go. What was he like to work with?”
O’Dea: “His top level is a seriously high ceiling. His biggest challenge is consistency. When he is at his best, he’s as good as anyone.
“But he needs to find that level of consistency. If he has aspirations, either sustain success at Celtic or move on. I think that would be the big question mark over him.
“You have clearly seen there is a temperamental, not issue with him, but he needs to find that. You can’t dip in form, the way he does, and hit the heights that he does.
“So, ultimately, if he finds consistency. He is still a young guy. He has done fantastic for Celtic. But if he wants to go to the next level, I think that’s the biggest thing for him, consistency.”
Is the Celtic midfield too one-dimensional?
Hatate’s Celtic career in numbers
Whatever numbers Hatate finishes with in his Celtic career, it won’t give him the justification because he has been a joy to watch on his day.
Some of Celtic’s best performances, such as the Champions League win over RB Leipzig last season, have seen Hatate at the heart of it all.
This current campaign hasn’t gone to plan for the player, but his career in Scotland and in the famous green and white colours has been pretty strong.
- Games: 174
- Starts: 144
- Goals: 32
- Assists: 31
- Total minutes: 11,676
- Trophies: 8
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