I’ve been keeping a count over the last few days. As is my daily duty as part of writing this blog, I have to undertake the unpleasant task of reading through the Scottish press to see what the hot topics are. More often than not though, it becomes a case of “OK, which bullsh*t story will I have to rip apart today?”
A Whole New Level of Desperation
As I said, I’ve been keeping a count, and in the last 3 days alone I have read 7 different stories, 3 from the same outlet, all dedicated to the same, hopeful premise: Celtic will sell Daizen Maeda in the summer.
The problem is, there is no evidence whatsoever to support this beyond “he’s playing really well, so obviously Celtic will sell him.”
Japan Does it Differently
It’s interesting to contrast this approach with that taken by the domestic media here in Japan. Like Scotland, certain outlets have their obvious biases. Some are more right-wing than others, especially when discussing touchy subjects like politics and immigration.
But when it comes to sports, apart from an occasionally unhealthy reverence for the Japanese national team, coverage in the Japanese media is usually fair, balanced and not really prone to personal biases.
It was when speculation began to surface in the Japanese press at the beginning of January that I backed away from my own previous assertion that Kyogo was here to stay.
No New Information
Unlike a lot of people on social media these days, I have managed to retain the ability to change my view when new, more accurate and trustworthy information arises.
However, in the case of Daizen, no such information has been forthcoming.
Now, will Celtic get offers for him in the summer? Probably, if he continues this form.
Will we sell him? I honestly don’t think so. Looking back on Kyogo, the signs were there, but in my own biased way, I didn’t see them.
His changing agents last summer was a surefire red flag that he wanted away. Brendan Rodgers more or less confirmed that, when he said Kyogo wanted away for “several months” shortly after his departure. Others on ACSOM tried to warn me, but I didn’t want to listen.
Family First, Football Second
There are no such red flags with Daizen though. He appears happy at Celtic, and clearly, most importantly, his family is happy in Glasgow.
I’ve never met Daizen personally, but I know from his time when he played in Nagano, which is where I live, that his family was always his top priority. This was why he returned to Japan initially, after going on loan to Maritimo in Portugal. Despite impressing during his 23 game loan spell, he opted to go back to Japan and join Yokohama Marinos.
His family wasn’t ready for the big move to Europe. By the time Celtic came calling almost 2 years later, things had moved on. He had matured as a player and his family was that little bit older too.
Keeping Maeda is a Sign of Future Ambition
Players like Daizen Maeda are the type Celtic need to keep around if we are serious about progressing further in Europe next year. Unlike Kyogo, Daizen continued to get called up to the Japan Squad even after joining Celtic. So, there isn’t that outward pressure on him to move either.
Now, I could well be wrong and Daizen might end up leaving in the summer. But if does, it will be for a club record fee. Nothing less would be acceptable, because Celtic know all too well just how hard it would be to replace him.
We Know Daizen’s Value, England Doesn’t
Looking at it from the other side, the arrogance and dismissiveness with which most English football fans look upon the Scottish game, ensures that such an offer is unlikely. Although, even mediocre clubs in England still have access to funds that Celtic can only dream of, fans are conditioned to expect proven top level talent for the kind of price we would need to get to sell Maeda.
I’m talking in the 30 to 40 million pounds range. No EPL team would pay that for any player in Scotland. But that’s the kind of money Celtic would need to even begin to replace someone of Maeda’s quality.
At 27 years old, he is in his prime. We are getting the best of him now. Maeda also knows he has it good at Celtic. The misfortune that has befallen both Matt O’Reilly and Kyogo since leaving Celtic shows that the grass isn’t always greener elsewhere.
So, who do you trust? Us, or the Redtops?
Time will tell which of us is right. But until the summer, which is the earliest point at which any club could legally make an approach for Maeda, everything you read about the player leaving or being linked elsewhere is nothing but speculation.
In most cases, that speculation has an agenda behind it. It’s no coincidence that these stories start flooding out from the usual sources as Celtic face the two most important two games of the season over the next fortnight. A chance to reach the Scottish Cup semi-finals, followed by the chance to remind Rangers yet again of their true place in Scotland’s football hierarchy.
Regardless of what team they support, writers at the likes of The Sun and the Daily Record know that preserving that illusion of rivalry is crucial to their ongoing relevance and continued existence. Unsettling our best players is one way of trying to level the playing field. However, it is doomed to fail.
I doubt Celtic, our manager or our star player will pay much attention to it. Nor should they.