Celtic legend Shunsuke Nakamura has offered some advice to midfielder Reo Hatate as the Japan international prepares to return to Celtic Park for pre-season.
Nakamura made over 100 appearances for Celtic over a four year period and hopes his fellow countryman is now following in his footsteps in Glasgow's east end. During his time in Scotland, he was nominated for the Ballon d'Or, named Scottish Player of the Year and Scottish Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year while also becoming the first Japanese player to score in the Champions League.
It's a legacy that Hatate will hope to live up to as he looks to build on a Scottish Premiership title win during his first season. The 24-year-old burst onto the scene in January with a sensational debut against Hibs before his double against Rangers made him an instant fans hero, and will look to earn more plaudits next term at Celtic Park.
So there are few better people to ask for advice than Nakamura as he gets ready to return to Scotland.
The midfield shared a snap of the two together as well as chatting over a meal while as he he enjoys his summer break back home.
Alongside the post he commented: "I met Shunsuke Nakamura-san during my holidays. Thank you for all the stories you shared with me!"
Previously Nakamura has talked up the impact of Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Maeda at Celitc, stating: "Yosuke has more than 10 caps for Japan and is a great talent. Reo is only getting better by the day and won two league titles in Japan. Daizen is very quick and has all the ability required for modern football and matches the style of the manager.
“I hope more Japanese players will join Celtic in the future and help the club, but I also have my former team-mate Stephen McManus who is now a coach there, and I wish him good luck."
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