DEBUNKING THE LATEST DAIZEN MAEDA CELTIC STORY
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Jul 19
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 20
I’m not slow to call out the mainstream media when they lie or manufacture news designed to negatively impact Celtic. So, it’s only fair I apply the same critical eye when I see positive reports about Celtic that, equally, I suspect are false or exaggerated.
Such is the case today with a story claiming that Daizen Maeda is close to completing negotiations on a new deal at Celtic.
This isn’t true, however there is every chance that it could happen in the near future.
The source of this latest claim Football Insider has quite the reputation for what you might call “fake news”.
No, Daizen Maeda Celtic Extension Isn’t Imminent
It was the same site that set off a chain reaction of premature stories on several Celtic blogs a few months ago claiming that Greg Taylor had signed an extension to his Celtic contract.
Simply put, they were lying then, and I suspect they are lying now.
Football insider is to journalistic best practice, what Hannibal Lecter is to Veganism.
Now, I get it. Some Celtic sites will pick this story up and run with it. It’s a good news story and certainly one that I think we all want to believe is true. Initially I was thinking of running the story too. But then I checked the original source.
As much as I want to tell you that the rumors of a Daizen Maeda Celtic contract extension are true, I can’t, in good conscience, do that.
What I can say is that having watched the selection of interviews Daizen has given to numerous sites and tv channels here in Japan over the past couple of months, he is in no hurry to leave Celtic. His mind is clearly focused on doing well in the Champions League next season, and cementing his place in the Japan squad for next summer’s World Cup.
Never at any time, despite what the numerous, out of context comments you’ve read in the Scottish press may say, has Maeda said he wants to leave Celtic.
Much was made of a comment Maeda made during a recent interview about “wanting to push himself to the next level”.
What the Scottish press conveniently left out (I’ll be diplomatic and put it down to incompetent translation rather malicious intent) was what Daizen said next.
“That means I need to try even harder for Celtic in the Champions League next season.”
So, when Daizen was talking about reaching a new level, that wasn’t him asking for a move to Brentford, as the Daily Record and The S*n would have you believe.
Actually, it was about the importance of his contribution to making Celtic stronger so the whole team can reach a new level in Europe next season.
Context is key, when trying to understand Japanese especially. I don’t blame Scottish writers or even some Celtic bloggers for getting it wrong from time to time. I get it wrong sometimes too. That’s part of the process.
But we all need to do better than rely on clickbait mills like Football Insider for our sources.
