January 8, 2026
[Celtic] Legendary O’Neill with an “oops moment”? Glasgow rattled over Maeda’s future
Celtic legend Martin O’Neill (73) has made a shock return as interim manager until the end of the season, replacing Wilfried Nancy, who was sacked after just 33 days in charge.
At his unveiling press conference on the 6th (local time), O’Neill unexpectedly dropped a “forbidden bit of backstory” about the future of Celtic’s key man, Japan international forward Daizen Maeda (28), leaving local media wide-eyed.
Maeda’s collapsed transfer? It was “Wolfsburg”
Last summer, Maeda was linked with several Premier League and Bundesliga clubs, but the exact destinations were never named. Until now.
O’Neill’s accidental reveal:
“Because the move didn’t happen last summer, I think he was understandably disappointed. Wasn’t it Wolfsburg? Around August, I think. …Oh—have I just said something I wasn’t meant to? Forget that. Cut it! (laughs)”
Why it collapsed:
According to local reports, Celtic were close to accepting an offer from VfL Wolfsburg, but failed to line up a replacement striker. In the end, they pulled the plug and blocked Maeda’s exit.
What about this winter? “I need to hear it from him”
With transfer rumours flaring up again this winter, O’Neill struck a cautious tone.
An uncertain future:
“There’s no point me saying ‘he’s happy and wants to stay’ if he’s gone the next morning. I’ll speak to him and his agent first, and hear what he actually wants.”
Still desperate to keep him:
That said, O’Neill made it clear: “Personally, I really want him to stay. That level of energy is absolutely vital for this team.”
Japanese Fan Reactions
3: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 16:59
A club you should never move to.
5: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 17:01
Celtic are terrifyingly weak. Every Japanese player should leave.
7: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 17:03
You can’t trust Anglo-Saxons.
11: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 17:15
>>7
Celtic are more Celtic than Anglo-Saxon, mate.
10: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 17:09
Play well at Celtic → locked up.
Ride the bench → shipped back to Japan.
14: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 17:16
Even Sint-Truiden looks like a better future than Celtic at this point.
16: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 17:37
Not a stepping-stone club. It’s where mid-table or ageing players cash in. So yeah, predictable.
22: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 17:44
Nakamura’s doing well not to lose motivation. Yasuda the idiot might be gone this year though.
65: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/08 07:18
>>22
That’s still Ligue 2, even if it’s France. The stalking incident was probably worse for him.
25: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 17:47
Didn’t Maeda himself say he had Premier League offers that never worked out?
26: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 17:48
His value’s halved since summer. Bad for everyone.
29: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 18:02
The Scottish league is just brutal, honestly.
30: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 18:03
Unlike the J-League, the high wages here are shackles as much as rewards. Guess he didn’t realise that.
32: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 18:28
Perfect final destination for fringe national-team players.
If you want to be a regular or step up, never go there.
36: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 19:26
>>32
A weird type like Maeda only works at Celtic and still helps the national team. Otherwise he’s bench-level now, even to Moriyasu.
45: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 21:38
>>36
Maeda helps any team. Endless pressing and constant runs in behind.
51: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 22:26
Furuhashi aside, Maeda could survive in a top-five league if the system fits. He’s basically DF-W Okazaki.
38: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 19:55
Wolves are still desperate for forwards though.
46: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 21:41
The Scottish table looks insane right now. When was the last time it wasn’t a two-horse race?
48: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 22:06
Why do Japanese players keep going to Celtic?
49: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 22:17
>>48
Low league level, high wages, and Moriyasu still calls you up. That perk’s fading fast though.
Better than being a regular in a top-4 second division with no promotion. You get hyped in Japan, but exposed at national level.
61: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/08 02:52
>>48
Champions League group-stage football mattered. Not anymore, though.
56: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/08 01:11
Wasn’t Dortmund the rumour?
66: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/08 09:55
Even as top scorer at Celtic, the move is Wolfsburg? Japanese players should never go there again.
Celtic Fan Reactions
280: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 17:38
Volkswagen, huh.
281: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/07 17:51
Must hurt for Daizen.
282: Anonymous Fan 2026/01/08 07:36
People knew the league level was low even back in Nakamura’s era, but I didn’t realise it was this hard to move on.
