Ibrox fans are being tortured by the thought that Daizen Maeda was offered and presumably rejected as a potential signing for their club!
On Tuesday night the Japanese forward turned in another inspired display as Celtic beat RB Leipzig bringing more attention to his highly individual style of play.
As a winger his dribbling or crossing aren’t especially impressive but in terms of effort, pressing and work rate he is every full-backs nightmare- not just James Tavernier’s.
Maeda was one of three signings made by Ange Postecoglou on 31 December 2021 as he demonstrated that the January transfer window isn’t as notoriously difficult as many like to make out.
It never worked out for Yosuke Ideguchi but in Maeda and Reo Hatate Celtic struck gold with almost three years of solid service from both players.
Hatate was a late developer, only turning professional at the age of 21 but for Maeda the move to Celtic was a second chance in Europe after a loan move to Portuguese side Maritimo in season 2019/20 wasn’t converted into a permanent transfer.
Returning to Japan he teamed up with Ange Postecoglou at Yokohama F Marinos which is probably where Craig Moore made contact.
We were offered Maeda. What a trophy. 😂
Hahahaha 😂 Why are they all pure and utter fantasists?
— The Free Rogic International. (@CelticEnded2iar) November 6, 2024
The early months of 2021 is the most likely time of the recommendation, once Postecoglou decided to manage Celtic Maeda was the one player that he wanted to sign from Yokohama F Marinos. Scott Wright was signed from Aberdeen in January 2021.
Craig Gordon was another who slipped through the Ibrox scouting network, after two years out of action through injury he spent six months training at Murray Park before joining Celtic in June 2014 ahead of Fraser Forster’s transfer to Southampton.
As an agent Moore will constantly be alerting clubs over the availability of players, for every Maeda there are probably half a dozen others that sink without trace with Ibrox something of a black hole for developing footballers.
There was an early indication of his incredible stamina levels, on 1 February 2022 he came off the bench in the 68th minute for Japan in a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia, the next day he was a 62nd minute substitute for Giorgos Giakoumakas in a famous 3-0 Glasgow Derby triumph.
Thankfully we will never know how Maeda (Gordon or Mooy) would have fared at Ibrox but the evidence of his Celtic career is of a very reliable, dedicated and unique talent.
At the age of 27 he seems to have found the football platform that he requires with his family appearing to be settled and happy with life in Glasgow.
Over a three week period between December 15 and January 2 Ibrox fans should get a close up look at another of their famous ‘ones that got away’ with Alex McLeish and Leo Messi topping that list.
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Beggars can’t be choosers mate 🤣
— the bullet train (@Maedasteel) November 6, 2024
2 Comments
by Jas
Someone said something the other day, we all know Barron left Aberdeen for them in the summer with the fee to be arranged.
Can someone tell me if that means sale or return? Or is it that Sevco have no cash in the bank and can’t afford to cough up at this time.
I understand there’s some committee who comes up with the amount, so how long does that take?
To me that means Barron should be ineligible to play for Sevco until the cash has been handed over!!!!!
Editor: It is very strange how quiet Aberdeen have been on the compensation fee.
by TicToc
Daizen Maeda, what a guy!
I’m aware there won’t be a game he plays in when he won’t do a “what TF was that?”
But you have to just love him. The concentration, tracking back and winning the ball, harassing opponents and running every minute he’s on. Oh and scoring/assisting too. AYE, he’ll do for me.
Reo had me really worried over the past year (after injury) but he seemed to get back to “Reo” in the semi-final vs the sheep and again vs RB. Hopefully his troubles are behind him.
Kyogo’s not been quite “Kyogo” and his goal vs the sheep was too high into the net for my liking but he makes up the trio and what a trio it’s been. Oh I love our Japanese Bhoys! And Kyogo’ll be back soon. Thanks to “Absolutely Not Good Enough” Postecoglou (Hugh Fukkin Keevins), we’ve got an oriental presence we haven’t really seen since Naka graced our Paradise.