NafisaOne of Celtic’s fan favourite’s future at Celtic has been the subject of growing speculation throughout the summer, with the Japanese midfielder making no secret of his desire to test himself in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
As the Hoops continue their preparations for the new campaign, questions over whether the 28-year-old has already played his final match at Parkhead refuse to go away.
The uncertainty surrounding Reo Hatate has only intensified following his delayed return to pre-season, while his recent comments about seeking a new challenge have kept supporters guessing over what comes next. With the transfer window still open, every move the midfielder makes is now being closely monitored by fans.
Now, Hatate has once again found himself at the centre of attention after an unexpected social media interaction involving Rangers, leaving supporters from both sides of the Old Firm debating what it could mean.
Hatate sparks fresh Rangers discussion on Instagram
Cammy Devlin’s move from Hearts to Rangers has already generated plenty of reaction, but it was Reo Hatate’s activity on Instagram that stole the headlines.
The Australian midfielder completed his switch to Ibrox after leaving Hearts as a free agent, joining former Jambos captain Lawrence Shankland and manager Derek McInnes at Rangers.
Shortly after Rangers announced the signing, Hatate’s verified Instagram account was spotted liking both the club’s announcement post and the identical post shared by Devlin on his personal page.
The interaction quickly spread across social media, with some Celtic supporters questioning whether the midfielder had accidentally liked the posts, while others joked about what it could mean.
One fan wrote:
“Bye bye Reo Hatate.”
Another described the situation as:
“Bizarre.”
A different supporter even labelled Hatate:
“A wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Others were less convinced there was any deeper meaning behind the interaction.
One fan pointed out:
“He follows Cammy Devlin on Insta so it’s prob popped up on his feed and he’s just liked it without reading it.”
Another added:
“He follows Devlin. Could be an accident. And who gives a f***.”
While the Instagram activity has fuelled plenty of discussion online, there is no evidence that Hatate is preparing to join Rangers or reunite with Lawrence Shankland at Ibrox.
What is known is that Hatate has openly admitted he hopes to leave Celtic for a new challenge in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
Earlier this month, the midfielder said he wanted to test himself at a higher level after enjoying Champions League football with the Hoops.
His future therefore remains uncertain as speculation continues over a possible move away from Parkhead before the transfer window closes.
Hatate has also been catching up on fitness after returning late for pre-season.
Explaining the midfielder’s absence from Celtic’s recent friendly against Shelbourne, manager Martin O’Neill said:
“Reo came late to proceedings. I think he was a bit ill at the time, so he missed out about four or five days.
“He’s doing a little bit of work and he’s catching up with us in Portugal.”
For now, Hatate remains a Celtic player despite ongoing speculation surrounding his future.
His Instagram activity may have sparked plenty of debate among supporters, but there is nothing to suggest it signals an imminent switch across the Glasgow divide, with the midfielder continuing to be linked instead with a move to one of Europe’s major leagues.
Nafisa
