DAIZEN MAEDA CONFIRMS, YET AGAIN, HE’S NOT LEAVING CELTIC
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
The Scottish Press are hardly unique when it comes to their habitual flogging of dead horses.
But the brightest glint of false hope the Daily Record and others have been feeding their Rangers loving readership for the last few months was shut down yet again today.
In yet another interview, facing yet another unsolicited question about his immediate Celtic future, Daizen Maeda once again reaffirmed his commitment to the Celtic cause.
No Matter How Many Times They Ask, Daizen Maeda Isn’t Leaving Celtic
There is something of a conceit that has, in my opinion been, allowed to propagate unchallenged for far too long in modern journalism. The notion that if you keep pushing a narrative, regardless of whether it’s true or not, you can somehow will it into reality.
Sadly, this fast-food approach to journalism does work sometimes. One need only look back at the supremely sad way in which a combination of Israeli, British right-wing and other nefarious media outlets basically bullied Liel Abada into leaving Celtic 18 months ago.
Thankfully, I don’t see that happening in this case. Daizen is happy at Celtic. There are continued murmurings, though nothing conclusive in Japan, that a bumper new contract is heading his way soon.
Celtic’s probable delving into the Japanese market again this week with the seemingly “done-deal” to bring in young left-sided defender Hayato Inamura, is also reassuring in this respect. At the end of the day, each individual footballer makes their own choices, regardless of who else is around, Kyogo being a recent example.
However, when you’re a foreigner, living abroad for an extended period, there’s no denying that having another compatriot in town, who speaks your own language is a calming and comforting influence.
I can personally attest to this. I had the pleasure of catching up with a good friend of mine from my time in Osaka the other day, and just being able to speak entirely in English for a day or so, was so refreshing.
Anyway, Daizen said today on the Japanese site Sportiva, in quotes which were later stolen and unattributed by the Daily Record, that he’s already looking ahead to playing in the Champions League with Celtic again next season.
He said: "I really enjoyed playing in the Champions League this season because there were so many games and it gave us a lot of different challenges.
"I think the new format has been great and I am excited to try it again this upcoming season. It helped me improve.”
This will be the 4th time by my count in the past two months or so that Daizen has publicly made a similar kind of statement. Yet, like a randy dog dry-humping it’s unfortunate owner’s leg, the Scottish press just won’t let this story go.
Daizen will still be here next season, scoring goals against some of the best teams in Europe, and hopefully Rangers too.
Speaking of those genetic misfits across The Clyde, It’s funny how quiet things are over at Ibrox since the takeover went through isn’t it?
Of course, as usual, in the absence of anything positive to say about Rangers, the Daily Record and their other media lapdogs do their level best to try and unsettle Celtic. Thankfully, Daizen Maeda is one player who will not be moved by such buffoonery.