Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate wants move to European league

Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate has publicly expressed his desire to leave the Scottish champions this summer to pursue a career in one of Europe's top five leagues. The 28-year-old Japanese international, who has two years remaining on his contract, made his ambitions clear in an interview published this week.

Hatate stated he wants to challenge himself at a higher level, specifically aiming to play in the UEFA Champions League or Europa League on a consistent, season-long basis. He acknowledged his time at Celtic, where he has won eight major trophies over four-and-a-half years and played in European competition, but said he remains unsatisfied and harbors a strong desire to test himself elsewhere. According to reports, he has already communicated this wish to the club's hierarchy.

The player's comments come after a season where his role diminished under manager Martin O'Neill. Although Hatate made 47 appearances across all competitions, scoring six goals and providing three assists, he was not included in the matchday squad for the Scottish Cup Final in May. During the final stretch of the Premiership campaign, he started none of the club's last five league matches and saw...