Celtic loanee Odin Thiago Holm has paid tribute to Reo Hatate, a player who Holm was in awe of during training at Lennoxtown.
Holm praised Hatate’s technical ability while revealing exactly what it is that makes the Japan international so special.
Holm, who joined Celtic in the summer of 2023, worked alongside Hatate for 18 months before joining LAFC on loan until the end of the MLS season in January.
However, the Norwegian has been able to displace Hatate in the Celtic starting XI, but that hasn’t stopped him from praising him for what he brings to training.
He said: (RecordSport),”I think for me, the player I watched the most in training and who impresses me the most is Reo Hatate.
“Just his technical ability is crazy. The way he passes the ball and can see a pass, it’s a different level.”
Hatate at times doesn’t receive enough credit, but one aspect of his game he has improved this season is his consistency. He has put up his best goal-scoring numbers, stayed fit, and earned a place in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year.
Against Rangers on Sunday, Hatate was one of Celtic’s better players, and having scored in the previous Glasgow Derby, it shows that he has improved under Brendan Rodgers. Holm, having witnessed the incredible standards Hatate sets in training firsthand, can confirm the midfielder’s growth and dedication.
It’s great to hear how much Holm admires Hatate, and hopefully, he has learned a thing or two from the Japanese midfielder. With a huge opportunity at LAFC to play in the Club World Cup this summer, everything he learned at Celtic could pay off in style.
