‘Like Diego Maradona’ – Chris Sutton compares Parkhead hero’s vital Celtic role to Napoli icon

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There are many players at Celtic who are vitally important to the club’s recent successes.

Captain Callum McGregor is arguably the driving force behind Celtic’s success over the last three seasons but there are others who have played their part.

Joe Hart was a vital addition as the former England man took over in the Celtic goal after the disastrous Vasilis Barkas spell.

And, of course, Celtic’s treble under Ange Postecoglou may never have happened had it not been for the goals of Kyogo Furuhashi.

However, there is one player currently at the club who Chris Sutton reckons is just as important to the club as Diego Maradona was to Napoli.

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Daizen Maeda is Celtic’s Diego Maradona

Now, let’s get this straight off the bat. Sutton is not for one second suggesting that Daizen Maeda is as good as Maradona.

But Celtic fans of a certain vintage will remember how the Argentinian legend was crucial to the success Napoli had in the late 80s and early 90s.

Sutton wrote in the Daily Record, “Don’t get me wrong, there are good players at Celtic who are proven winners.

“But this squad is fragile. Daizen Maeda has become like Diego Maradona to this team as the prospect of him getting injured – or dare I say it sold – doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Maradona led Napoli to two league titles, a Copa Italia, a Super Copa Italia and a UEFA Cup win.

What Daizen Maeda has previously said about his Celtic future

All the talk this summer is about Maeda extending his contract at the club. With just under two years of his current deal to run, Celtic fans will be desperate to see the Japanese winger stay at the club.

Speaking early this summer, Maeda said of his Celtic contract situation, “This is a world where you never know what’s going to happen next.

“This is a good team but I need to think about what comes next with my family and everything. Now my focus is on this team.

“I’m not thinking a lot right now because there’s still a game to play. I’m thinking about how I spend my day off, so we’ll just get the games done, then let’s see what happens.”