Daizen Maeda is currently in hibernation after competing for Japan at the 2026 World Cup.
But that hasn’t stopped the news from circulating about Maeda’s future at Celtic, with the forward wanting to head for the exit door this summer.
It has been well-documented since last summer that Maeda wanted to leave, when Brendan Rodgers was in charge, and that stance hasn’t changed now that Martin O’Neill is running the ship.
However, O’Neill has admitted that he would like Maeda to run down his contract at Celtic by recently telling The Herald: “I would love it if he just let his contract run through. And played for the last year. Honestly, it would be super.”
But this is where O’Neill is wrong.
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Celtic should be encouraging Daizen Maeda to leave
Maeda wants a Premier League move, and at the age of 28, you sense this is his last chance saloon to make that dream come true.
If that happens, then the Hoops will, more than likely, secure a big sum for his services.
That’s one reason to part ways with Maeda, then there is the fact that he wants to leave, so his heart is set elsewhere, and there is no point in persuading him to stay because you shouldn’t need to do that at a club like Celtic.
Plus, everyone saw how he performed for most of the recent campaign.
Yes, Celtic won the domestic double, and Maeda went goal crazy, but what he did for the months prior shouldn’t be forgotten.
Added to that, from Reo Hatate to Maeda himself, there needs to be an overhaul of this declining squad.
Most of these players have written their legend, and Maeda is no different. Keep that intact. Leave this summer, on a high, and allow the Scottish champions to move on by bringing in the next potential legendary player.
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