Could Kyogo come back to Celtic in the summer? I wouldn’t totally rule it out.
In Many Ways, It Makes Sense
I don’t usually engage with “what if” scenarios, but this is one that quite a few Celtic fans have mentioned lately, so I think it and warrants further discussion.
We all know how much Kyogo was loved by the Celtic support during his time with us. We also know that he’s having a torrid time in France right now.
Rumors suggest that Rennes may want to offload him as soon as this summer, and for less than half of what they paid Celtic for him in January.
He’s Worth a Lot More than 3.5 million
We also know that 3.5 million for a player of Kyogo’s obvious quality is an absolute bargain. Even at the age of 30, he could continue to do a turn for Celtic for at least the next couple of years.
Also, many things have changed both for the player, his situation and Celtic, since January.
Lured Away by Broken Promises
Without going into details, I’ve had to deal with my fair share of two-faced management types during my working life in Japan, and it seems Kyogo may have been drawn in by a similar deceptive character in Hajime Moriyasu, the Japan national team manager.
Word here in Japan is that one of the main reasons Kyogo suddenly wanted to leave Celtic is because Moriyasu told him last summer, the last time he played for the national team, that he wouldn’t select him again unless he moved to a higher level club.
Worrying Implications for Other Celtic Players
The obvious inconsistency here is that Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate both continue to be selected with neither having expressed any desire to leave Celtic so far. However, they are both a few years younger than Kyogo and maybe Moriyasu accepts that it will be another year or two before they are ready to leave Celtic to go to a league he personally rates.
The Ultimate Slap in the Face
However, Moriyasu showed his truly vindictive side when he called Kyogo up to the Japanese squad this week, but didn’t even name him among the substitutes for Japan’s 2-0 win over Bahrain, which secured the Samurai Blues’ passage to the next World Cup.
I mean technically, Moriyasu allegedly said he would give Kyogo a call up to the national team if he left Celtic. Which he did. He didn’t say anything about playing him.
I don’t know, maybe Kyogo seduced Moriyasu’s wife or something? Honestly there seems to be a palpable dislike for the player from the manager, and I’ve no idea why.
Keeping both Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate on the bench while Japan laboured to an eventual 2-0 victory last night, may be a sign that Moriyasu is about to deliver a similar ultimatum to them with the World Cup just 15 months away.
The Two Main Reasons for Kyogo Leaving are Now Out the Window
If media reports in Japan are to be believed, and I put far more stock in them than I do in the Scottish Press, then Kyogo’s two primary motivating factors for leaving Celtic were the desire to challenge himself in a more prestigious league, and to work his way back into the Japanese squad before the next World Cup.
In all likelihood, he won’t play for Japan again while Moriyasu is in charge, and Rennes look like a safe bet for relegation to the French 2nd tier. It seems Rennes no longer want Kyogo and he has little reason to stay there.
Parallels with Jota
There is a somewhat obvious comparison to be made with Jota’s return to Celtic. A beloved player we didn’t want to lose, coming home after realizing that it was a mistake to leave.
The difference is with Jota, it took 18 months and two clubs for him to see the error of his ways. Kyogo has barely been away from Celtic Park for 2 months. Rennes apparent haste to offload him seems more about cost-cutting and scapegoating ahead of relegation than down to any specific failing on the player’s part.
There is no doubt in my mind though, that much like Jota, what Kyogo really needs now is to go to a club where he will be appreciated, and where the fans will embrace him.
I’m not sure if that will be Celtic though.
The Biggest Obstacle is Probably Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers handled the situation with dignity and courtesy towards Kyogo as he left Celtic. However, a lot of Celtic fans, myself included, got the impression that Brendan Rodgers was not at all happy at losing one his best players in January, despite being aware of Kyogo’s wish to leave for “a number of months”.
He gave the impression he wasn’t too impressed with the way it all played out.
I don’t think Rodgers would be overly keen on re-signing a player who “jumped ship” mid-season.
However, given the way in which he himself left Celtic the first time around, some might call that stance a tad hypocritical.
Celtic Have Already Moved On
That aside, he probably already has his own ideas about potential forwards he wants to sign in the summer. The contrast between Kyogo’s stats under Ange Postecoglou with those under Brendan Rodgers also gives credence to the oft-stated idea that he “isn’t a Rodgers kind of player”.
A Beautiful, but Ultimately, Unlikely Fairy Tale
Numerous players have rejoined Celtic after leaving. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. I think Kyogo needs the kind of support and adulation that he would get at Celtic, to rebuild his career.
Unfortunately, I think the reality is that Celtic no longer need him. That’s not a slight on the player, I just think Kyogo no longer fits the profile of the kind of player we need to strengthen our squad.
I’d love to see the wee man back in The Hoops, scoring goals for us again one day. Unfortunately, I think that’s highly unlikely.
But, as I said before, stranger things have happened.