Reo Hatate got his Celtic career off to a super start as Ange Postecoglou’s January transfer pulled the strings against Hibernian on Monday with a lively box-to-box Parkhead display.
Postecoglou acquired Hatate from Kawasaki Frontale for £1.5m in a triple winter swoop on the J-League. He joined with Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda, who scored in the fourth-minute of Hibs’ Premiership defeat in Glasgow.
Hatate also came close to opening his Hoops account on a few occasions. But Matt Macey turned the 24-year-old’s efforts away, while the four-cap Japan international flashed shots just wide of the post.
But it was Hatate’s work with the ball where he impressed the most as he dictated the flow of proceedings. The Suzuka-native pinged the ball around Parkhead with ease. The 2021 J-League winner also took up some great positions to break up Hibs’ moves across the pitch.
Bonner in awe of Hatate after Celtic debut vs Hibs
Hatate left former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner in awe with his work to help Postecoglou’s side beat Hibs. The five-time Premiership winner lauded the Hoops star on BBC Sportsound (17/01, 21:53), comparing him with Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta.
“Hatate, with the quality he showed tonight, Iniesta comes to mind for me, in comparison,” Bonner said. “I want to see him in the middle of the park for Celtic.”
Postecoglou will be in dreamland if Hatate enjoys half the career at Celtic that Iniesta had at Barcelona. The Vissel Kobe maestro won four Champions League titles, nine La Ligas, six Spanish cups, three FIFA Club World Cups and three UEFA Supercups with the Catalans.
UEFA also named him the 2011/12 Best Player in Europe after winning a second European Championship with Spain. Iniesta also scored the only goal of the 2010 World Cup final.
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