A player who was brought in by Ange Postecoglou has gone on to become a regular starter, alongside captain, Callum McGregor.
Regardless of whoever Celtic have in that midfield, whether it’s the now-departed Matt O’Riley, Paulo Bernardo coming in last season, the boyhood fan Luke McCowan or the club-record transfer of Arne Engels.
Hatate still manages to keep his place in the XI because, when he turns it on, there isn’t anyone better to watch in this team.
Whether it’s Postecoglou in the dugout or Brendan Rodgers, there is a reason why he is thought of in such a high manner.
But, when things don’t go right, then frustration can set in and there was a discussion around how some inside Celtic Park view the player.
Celtic fans questioned why Reo Hatate is ‘under appreciated’
Celtic’s win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League this season was perhaps the best display of the campaign and one of the best you will see from the team in Europe.
Hatate was at the heart of that, but Andy Halliday suggested that he is ‘under appreciated’ by the fanbase and he doesn’t know why, as he told Open Goal.
Former player and Celtic fan Paul Slane also shared that, when Celtic got beaten by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, he spoke to some fans and they think this could be Hatate’s final campaign in Glasgow.
“I can’t understand how under appreciated he is from Celtic fans,” said Halliday. “They have had a bit of a go at him all season really.”
Paul Slane then added: “I remember after the Bayern game, I spoke to a few fans and a few of them I spoke to, it doesn’t mean it’s the majority, but a few of them were saying, ‘maybe, Hatate’s time could be in the summer’. You have got a good value for him, so maybe it’s his time.
“I think he is the one who can make a difference in that Celtic midfield.”
Hatate’s stats for Celtic this season
There is no way that Hatate should be allowed to head for that exit door in the summer because one of the best things about the side is the midfield.
Not just the quality, but the depth in quality and the maestro from Japan is at the heart of that.
