Daizen Maeda is currently enjoying the World Cup with Japan but it appears his latest interview has caused a stir about his Celtic future and life in Scotland.
The Celtic winger is lighting up the World Cup with his dazzling pace and work rate but it appears he has set the headlines on fire with his latest comments about life in Scotland.
But the key question behind what Maeda said is simple, does it actually say anything concrete about his future at Celtic, or is too much being read into the Japan international merely showing respect he got from a BBC reporter?
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Daizen Maeda’s Celtic message may not be what it seems
Maeda was interviewed at the World Cup and was asked what he has learned about his current four-and-a-half year stay at Celtic.
The Celtic hero told the BBC, “That, if you do your best, the supporters will feel it, and they’ll want to root for you. So I want to continue doing my best in Scotland.”
However, when told that a member of the BBC staff ‘loves’ him, Maeda replied, “Getting people to love and accept you, not just in Japan but in foreign countries like Scotland too, is not easy.
“So it makes me so happy that your friend said that.”
Why Celtic fans should not read too much into Maeda’s Scotland comments
Maeda has been one of Celtic’s most important players of recent times and has picked up five league titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups, including a treble in Ange Postecoglou’s final season in Glasgow.
It is widely anticipated that Maeda could exit Celtic this summer but does his recent comments show that he wants to stay?
Not in any explicit sense. It means he is comfortable at Celtic and respectful of his place at the club. But it stops short of anything that could be read as a long-term statement about his future at Parkhead.
On the flip side of that, what Maeda said does not mean a transfer from Celtic is imminent either. The Japan star would be a huge loss to Celtic and supporters would do anything to keep a hold of him.
But it’s also important not to read too much into quotes that on the surface, look like the Celtic winger is being respectful and gracious after hearing how much he is adored in Glasgow’s east end.
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