Daizen Maeda wants to continue doing his best in Scotland, and the daily record around his Celtic future has sharpened after months of speculation. The 28-year-old said he feels the love from Celtic fans while he weighs his next steps in a spell that has already swung from doubt to decisive goals.
He put the point plainly: “That, if you do your best, the supporters will feel it, and they'll want to root for you.” He added: “So I want to continue doing my best in Scotland.” Maeda was answering questions about what he had learned in four-and-a-half years playing football in Scotland.
Maeda, Celtic and Scotland
The forward’s comments land against a clear backdrop. At the start of last season, his form tailed off after a big-money transfer reportedly fell through on deadline day, and that was the point when questions around his Celtic future began to circulate more heavily.
He ended that same season in a far stronger place. Maeda scored in six consecutive matches, then struck the decisive second goal in Celtic’s 3-1 win over Hearts that secured the league title. He also scored in Celtic’s Scottish Cup final win over Dunfermline Athletic.
Japan, World Cup finals, Sweden
His club form carried into international duty with Japan. Maeda was selected for the World Cup finals, started the 2-2 draw with the Netherlands and was an unused substitute in the 4-0 defeat of Tunisia.
Before Japan’s final Group F game against Sweden, he was still talking like a player settled in the routine of Scottish football. After being told a female member of Scotland's back-room staff had said “tell him I love him,” he replied: “Getting people to love and accept you, not just in Japan but in foreign countries like Scotland too, is not easy.” He added: “So it makes me so happy that your friend said that.”
That leaves Celtic supporters with the same live issue they had before his latest remarks: whether Maeda’s strong finish has changed the direction of the speculation around his future. For now, the clearest signal is his own. He says he wants to stay in Scotland and keep doing his best.
