Hearts star Claudio Braga has been told he’d be a star if he joined Celtic this summer, as rumours continue to swirl regarding the future of Daizen Maeda.
Braga is revelling in being the poster boy of “a beautiful story” at Hearts that he feels is capturing the imagination of football fans all over the world.
The Edinburgh side are three points clear at the top of the William Hill Premiership with four games remaining in their quest to end 40 consecutive seasons of Old Firm dominance of the Scottish top-flight title.
“I feel like the team is helping me to get to places that I’ve never been individually when it comes to interest and everything from Portuguese channels or journalists,” said Braga, one of the nominees for the PFA Scotland Premiership player of the year award.
“I feel like it’s been a beautiful story. Around Europe, even the world, people are looking (at Hearts) and they enjoy it. It’s always a good story when somebody that is not supposed to win does good stuff.
“It just means that nothing is impossible. Hearts are a team that is known for playing with their heart and are like a family on the pitch.
“It’s not like we are the team that plays the most beautiful football. We are just the team that fights the most and I feel that means everything is possible, even against big money.
“Everybody loves a good story. I’m Portuguese, I don’t know that much about Scottish football but I know enough to know that it would probably help Scottish football in a way (if Hearts won the league).
“People would look more at Scottish football if it’s not only going to be Celtic or Rangers winning. Even for the other teams in the league, they will not go to the next year thinking, ‘oh, it’s going to be Celtic or Rangers’.
“If we do it they will think probably, ‘we can do it also’, so that would help Scottish football to get to a bigger level, I would say.”
The forward’s agent has been informed he is being monitored by Portuguese national team officials, and there are also rumours he could be on the move to a new club this summer.
Braga backed to replace Maeda at Celtic
Former players turned pundits Tony Watt and Gordon Dalziel were discussing whether the 26 year-old is ready for a big move, and both agreed he would set the world alight at Celtic Park.
“I think he’d be a star at Celtic,” Dalziel said in quotes shared by 67 Hail Hail, with Watt agreeing Braga could “play at Celtic no problem”.
And while they questioned whether there may be even bigger interest from Premier League clubs should Hearts go on and win the league, the two pundits agreed “they will sell him” and the situation surrounding Maeda certainly makes this one to watch.
Both players are versatile forwards who have played pretty much everywhere in attack for their sides this season, both are in their prime and both can both score and create to a high level.
|
All comps |
Maeda |
Braga |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
49 |
40 |
|
Goals |
11 |
17 |
|
Assist |
10 |
6 |
Martin O’Neill admitted this week that the Japan international could be sold this summer if he does not extend his deal.
“He’s got one more year. That would be something (a new contract) the club, and he would have to be talking about.
“If he didn’t want to stay any longer, then that would be a choice for the football club to try and sell him with a year left to run. I just assume that would be the normal thing.” – via The Herald
Should the Hoops be left with no choice but to cash in on Maeda, a move for Braga could well be in the pipeline.
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