Celtic: 24y/o ‘playmaker’ could be ‘star performer’ at Parkhead | OneFootball

Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate has the potential to be ‘one of the star performers next season,’ according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

The 24-year-old arrived from J-League outfit Kawasaki Frontale in January, and made an immediate impact at Parkhead, helping to guide his new side to the Scottish Premiership title.

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It was a hugely successful transitional season for Celtic last time out, with new manager Ange Postecoglou overseeing 17 incomings either on loan or on a permanent basis.

The Greek-Australian tactician led the Hoops to League Cup glory before they embarked on a 32-game unbeaten run in the SPFL to wrestle their top-flight crown back off fierce-rivals Rangers.

And Hatate certainly played his part in Celtic’s success. In 21 appearances across all competitions, the central midfielder registered four goals and three assists.

Next term could be an even more impressive campaign for the Japan international, though, who will surely benefit from having a full pre-season with his teammates under his belt.

Hatate could also have more responsibility placed upon his shoulders following the departures of fellow engine room operators Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton, leaving him as one of the versatile and talented options available to Postecoglou.

What has Joseph said about Hatate?

Joseph is clearly an admirer of Hatate, labelling him a ‘real playmaker’ who is ‘so clever on the ball’ in an interview with GiveMeSport.

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He told GMS: “With the likes of Rogic going, he’s a real playmaker. He’s just so clever on the ball, you can just tell when he gets the ball, there’s intelligence there. Everything he does is measured, there’s a reason for it, and he’s in certain positions for certain reasons.

“And he’s quite good to just watch on his own because you can see the intelligence, and I think once he gets back to full fitness, I think he could be one of the star performers next season.”

Where will Hatate play next season?

Hatate is also comfortable playing at left-back having done so on numerous occasions throughout his career, but it seems as though Postecoglou views him exclusively as a midfielder.

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The 5 foot 7 technician thrives with the ball at his feet and excels at threatening the goal with his long-distance shooting while also possessing an impressive eye for a pass.

He should be able to provide a nice balance between the more attack-minded David Turnbull and defensive-first Yosuke Ideguchi in Postecoglou’s setup as Celtic look to retain their title in 2022/23.