Reo Hatate has opened up about the pride he felt in helping Celtic secure a domestic double last season, as speculation continues to swirl about his future.
The Japanese midfielder was instrumental in Brendan Rodgers’ side winning the Premiership and reclaiming the League Cup. After an injury-hit 2023/24 campaign that saw him limited to just 16 league appearances, Hatate bounced back to feature in most matches last term – until a late-season knock ruled him out of Trophy Day and the Scottish Cup Final.
Speaking to The Sun, the 27-year-old said: “The moment we won the title, I felt a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment unlike anything I had ever felt before.
“In the previous season, I was injured repeatedly and played only 16 league games. This year, I was able to play in many more and contribute.
“I could also feel my growth as a player, defensively and in attack. I feel I have performed better than ever last season since joining Celtic. That is why I felt like I did when we won the league.
“However, I also remember some golden words from Zico that former player Atsuto Uchida once said. They were, ‘When you retire as a player, all that remains is the number of titles you have won’.
“Hearing that, I’m proud to have added another league title to my career this season.
“Winning cups and leagues is a cumulative effort. We play in a team and environment that allows us to aim for the title and we achieved it.
“But after a while, people forget how well a player performed in that season and what kind of level they showed.
“Numbers of goals and assists are there, but the record of winning a title will remain forever.”
Celtic fans had braced for summer interest in Hatate, who has regularly drawn attention from across Europe. But the midfielder’s late-season injury might yet cool that interest, at least temporarily. He’s not due back until pre-season begins, and there has been no further update given on his timeline.
Crucially, his comments suggest any move away from Parkhead would need to match his trophy-driven mentality. With Celtic again offering Champions League football and a genuine chance at more domestic success, the question may not be whether Hatate is ready to leave, but whether a better footballing fit even exists right now.
All will be revealed when the summer window slams shut in a few months.
