Reo Hatate has spoken about a special night when his mum came to watch him play for Celtic in the Champions League.
The midfielder scored his first goal in the competition during a 3-1 win over RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 5. It was already a big moment, but it meant even more because his mother had travelled from Japan to be there.
Hatate opened up about the emotion of the game, with his mother also very emotional after his special moment in the second half to seal the win following a Nicolas Kuhn brace
He said: (Sportiva), “My wife told me that on November 5th last year, my mother came to Celtic Park to watch the fourth round of the Champions League match against Leipzig and cried when she saw me entering the pitch with the Champions League anthem playing.
“I scored my first Champions League goal in that match, and when my wife saw my mother, she cried again.
“I wonder if I was able to show my parents some gratitude.
“I was happy to score a goal in a game that my mother came to watch. At the same time, I wanted to show her more success and make her happy.
“My mother is the one I keep in contact with more than anyone else in my family.”
While speculation continues to swirl, nights like the one against RB Leipzig are a reminder of what makes Celtic Park so special. Scoring under the lights in front of a packed home crowd, with his family in attendance, is the kind of experience that’s hard to match elsewhere.
The Japanese international has become a key player for Celtic. His energy, control on the ball, and ability to score important goals have made him a fan favourite over the last four seasons. But moments like this show he hasn’t forgotten what truly matters—family.
