Hearts star Claudio Braga is said to be set to star if he joins Celtic this summer, amid rumors swirling about Daizen Maeda’s future.
Braga is delighted to be the poster child for Hearts’ ‘beautiful story’, which he feels has captured the imagination of football fans around the world.
The Edinburgh side are three points clear at the top of the William Hill Premiership and have four games left to end the Old Firm’s dominance of Scotland’s top-flight title for 40 consecutive seasons.
Braga, who is one of the nominees for the PFA Scottish Premiership Player of the Year award, said: “I feel like the team is helping me go to places I haven’t personally been in terms of interest and everything from Portuguese channels and journalists.”
“I feel it’s become a beautiful story. Across Europe and even around the world, people are paying attention to (Hearts) and enjoying it. It’s always a good story when someone who’s not supposed to win does something good.”
“That means nothing is impossible. Hearts are a team known for playing with heart and are like a family on the pitch.
“It’s not that we’re the team that plays the prettiest football. We’re just the team that fights the most and we feel that means anything is possible, even for big money.”
“Everyone loves a good story. I’m Portuguese so I don’t know much about Scottish football, but I know enough that it would probably (if Hearts win the league) help Scottish football in some ways.
“If it wasn’t just Celtic or Rangers winning, people would pay more attention to Scottish football. Even with other teams in the league, they wouldn’t go into the next year thinking, ‘Oh, Celtic or Rangers will win.’
“If we do that, then maybe they will think, ‘We can do it too.’ That will help Scottish football reach a bigger level.”
The player’s agent has been informed that the player is being monitored by Portuguese national team officials, and there are rumors that he could move to a new club this summer.
Braga returns to replace Maeda at Celtic
Former players turned pundits Tony Watt and Gordon Dalziel have discussed whether the 26-year-old is ready for a big move, and both agree he will set the world on fire at Celtic Park.
“I think he’s going to be a star at Celtic,” Dalziel said in a quote shared by 67 Hail Hail, with Watt agreeing that Bulaga “can play just fine at Celtic.”
And while he doubts there will be even more interest from Premier League clubs if Hearts continue to win the league, both experts agree that they will sell him, and given the circumstances surrounding Maeda, it will definitely be a game to watch.
Both players are versatile forwards who have played almost everywhere in the team’s attack this season, and both are in their prime and capable of both scoring and creating at a high level.
all comps | Maeda | braga |
|---|---|---|
Appearance | 49 | 40 |
the goal | 11 | 17 |
assist | 10 | 6 |
Manager Martin O’Neill admitted this week that the Japan international could be sold this summer if his contract is not extended.
“He has one more year. It’s about the club (a new contract) and he’ll have to talk about it.
“If he doesn’t want to stay any longer, it would be the football club’s choice to try to sell him with one year left. I think that would be the normal thing to do.” – via the Herald
If the Hoops are left with no choice but to sign Maeda, a move to Braga could very well be planned.
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