Celtic fans baffled by ‘insane’ Martin O’Neill comment after Daizen Maeda news
Martin O’Neill’s desire to keep Daizen Maeda for the 2026-27 season and let the attacker run down the last year of his contract has baffled Celtic fans.
The 28-year-old is widely expected to leave Parkhead this summer as he pursues his dream of playing in the Premier League.
This is perhaps the last chance the Hoops have to cash in on the Japan international, who has now entered the last 12 months of his contract.
However, O’Neill has urged Maeda to stay at the club for one last season, and then leave next summer on a free transfer.
This take has been viewed as “insane” by many Celtic fans, with the club potentially missing out on millions for the attacker.
Maeda has been a key figure at the Hoops for years, and netted nine goals in his last seven matches in all competitions to help the club lift a domestic double.
Martin O’Neill: I’d love Daizen Maeda to stay at Celtic
Maeda leaving Celtic this summer would no doubt be a massive blow.
The attacker has been crucial up top for years and is currently the club’s only reliable attacker.
However, given the attacker’s desire for a new challenge and his contract situation, many supporters are resigned to a departure this summer.
Therefore, when O’Neill spoke to The Herald on 13 July, many fans were shocked.
"I think there's some resignation in that aspect. It isn't one of those where he's got a year left to run and we want to try and make something of it in the sense of getting money," O'Neill said.
"It's not that at all. Personally speaking, I would love it if he just let his contract run through. And played for the last year.
"Honestly, it would be super. I don't know whether that's in his mind or in his agent's mind.
"If I throw back, not every comparison has been made, but Henrik Larsson told me a year before that that was going to be his last year.
"Now, his contract was out at that stage and he was fantastic for us in the final season. But he made it clear that that's what he was going to do. He had his time.
"Now, the only difference between that is that he's got a year left to run. That's all. But it's not one of us trying to make as much out of it in terms of finance.
"It's me, personally. I'd love him to stay. I'm not sure that that's going to happen."
As a result, multiple supporters took to X to criticise O’Neill as they believe he is risking millions just for one season.
Who is interested in signing Maeda this summer?
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness exclusively told Football Insider that he believes that Brentford are currently leading the race to sign Maeda this summer.
The Bees are one of numerous clubs linked with the striker this transfer window, but Wyness believes the club will get a deal over the line.
He also suggested that a move to the Gtech Community Stadium would be a good fit for the 28-year-old, as strikers have generally had strong success there in recent years.
However, it remains to be seen who will win the race for the attacker, and if Celtic will even let him go after O’Neill’s recent admission about Maeda.