Frank McAvennie has blasted Celtic forward Daizen Maeda for opening his mouth during the international break.
Maeda told the Japanese press that he wanted to leave Celtic during the summer transfer window, but was denied an exit by the club.
Brendan Rodgers said Maeda informed him in February that he wanted to depart the Hoops in the summer, but the Celtic boss said the club were not in a position to sell.
Maeda will now need to knuckle down until at least January when he might be handed the chance to leave Celtic. But McAvennie isn’t pleased.
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Former Celtic striker McAvennie told the Let Me Be Frank Podcast that Maeda has made a ‘catastrophic error’ by announcing his desire to leave Parkhead.
McAvennie understands Maeda has handled himself professionally, unlike some Premier League stars who did everything to force a move in the summer.
But he thinks Maeda should not have expressed his feelings publicly.
McAvennie said: “It’s just been a catastrophic amount of errors really when it comes to Maeda coming out and saying that. He didn’t have to say that when he was over in America, he didn’t have to say that.
Host Simon Houston then said: “You don’t know the background. This boy could potentially have been told: ‘Right you’re away, you’re leaving. Your Celtic career is now at an end.’
McAvennie replied: “Well sh*t happens, Simon. I get it, Maeda, he’s done brilliant and tremendous.”
Maeda appears unperturbed by Celtic noise
Understandably, Maeda’s admission has attracted plenty of media attention and a lot of discourse amongst the Celtic fans.
Some players would buckle under the chatter after issuing such a statement, but Maeda is remaining professional and hard-working.
Aleksander Isak and Yoanne Wissa showed in the summer how not to behave when players want to leave their club for another.
Maeda will continue to keep his head down and do his best for Celtic, as proven with his excellent header against Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Come January, Celtic will need to make a decision on whether or not to sell the player, who will still have a year-and-a-half on his contract by then.