One of the early names Celtic were linked with this summer was Japanese playmaker Ryotaro Ito.
There was apparently reports in Japan that we were interested in signing him and then the Scottish Main Stream Media picked up the story and ran with it over here.
Ange was asked about the rumours in one if his press conferences and responded with the following:
“They’ve gone early with their stabs in the dark, haven’t they? Look, we’re doing our work but people trying to identify who we’re trying to earmark for next year – it’s fair to say if they’re taking punts now they are well, well, well off the mark. Well off the mark. Without talking about specific players.”
And it appears that Ange was telling us the truth on this occasion, as Ito has just been announced as a new signing for Belgian Pro League side STVV.
Ito looked a good player and one that Celtic fans were keen to sign after watching his Youtube highlights. He was compared in playing style to current Celt and fellow Japanese star Reo Hatate.
And similar to Celtic, STVV already have FIVE Japanese players in their current squad, including Premier League winner with Leicester, Shinji Okazaki, so that will definitely help Ito settle in his first spell in Europe.
And Japanese based journalist Dan Orlowitz has high hopes for the player’s progression.
Check out his tweet below.
