NafisaCeltic’s Champions League dream has turned into a nightmare in the most brutal fashion, with the Hoops suffering one of the most painful European collapses in recent memory.
Martin O’Neill’s side travelled to Austria with what appeared to be an almost unassailable advantage after a 3-0 first-leg victory over LASK at Celtic Park. Even when Callum McGregor put Celtic ahead on the night, extending the aggregate advantage to 4-0, qualification appeared inevitable.
Instead, everything fell apart.
LASK produced an extraordinary comeback, scoring five times without reply to win 5-1 on the night and overturn the four-goal deficit. The decisive goal came in extra time, completing a 5-4 aggregate turnaround and sending Celtic crashing out of the Champions League.
The defeat has already triggered a major inquest into Celtic’s mentality, defending and squad depth, with O’Neill accepting responsibility for the collapse and admitting there is still a huge amount of work to do.
And just hours after that European nightmare, attention has once again turned towards a player whose Celtic future has been hanging in the balance for much of the summer.
The midfielder has barely featured under O’Neill and had already been linked with a move away from Parkhead before the LASK tie. Reports have suggested interest from several different markets, while Celtic have also been looking at midfield reinforcements of their own.
That situation has now taken another significant turn.
The Japanese midfielder has reportedly made it clear that he wants a new challenge, although he has not been prepared to accept just any offer. Recent reports indicate approaches from Greece, Austria and MLS have been rejected because the player is holding out for what he considers a more attractive move to one of Europe’s major leagues.
That is where the situation becomes particularly interesting for Celtic.
The club are not believed to be desperate to keep a player who has fallen down the pecking order, particularly after the arrival of Mika Baur and with O’Neill still looking to strengthen his midfield following Arne Engels’ departure. Reports have also indicated that Celtic would demand a significant seven-figure fee before sanctioning a sale.
And the player at the centre of the saga is Reo Hatate.
The 28-year-old has reportedly been out of O’Neill’s plans during the opening weeks of the campaign and has been linked with an exit for some time. Panathinaikos have been among the clubs mentioned, while interest has also emerged from elsewhere.
Hatate’s situation is particularly striking given the role he previously played at Celtic.
Since arriving from Kawasaki Frontale, he has made 189 appearances for the Hoops and helped the club win five league titles, three Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups.
But his position has changed dramatically.
Recent reporting suggests Celtic are now prepared to allow Hatate to leave if the right offer arrives, while the midfielder himself appears determined to wait for an opportunity that better suits his ambitions rather than simply accept one of the proposals already put forward.
The timing could hardly be more dramatic.
Celtic have just suffered a European humiliation that exposed concerns over the squad and midfield, yet one of the players who could potentially provide experience and technical quality in that area is simultaneously being lined up for an exit.
O’Neill now faces a major decision before the transfer window closes.
Does Celtic keep Hatate around as experienced midfield cover after the LASK disaster, or does the club follow through with its apparent decision to move him on and bring in another player?
For now, the latest reports suggest the latter is increasingly likely.
And after what happened in Austria, Celtic supporters may well wonder whether losing an experienced midfielder at this stage of the campaign is a risk the club can really afford to take.
Nafisa
