RAW EMOTION FROM KYOGO: “ONLY ONE PERSON WANTED ME DESPITE BEING THEIR BEST PLAYER” KYOGO BREAKS SILENCE ON CELTIC RETURN

Kyogo Furuhashi has finally broken his silence on his emotional return to Celtic, delivering a candid and deeply personal interview that has sent shockwaves through the club’s fanbase. Speaking with raw honesty, the Japanese forward revealed that despite everything he achieved at Parkhead, he felt largely forgotten and that only one man truly fought for his return: Celtic captain Callum McGregor.

Kyogo’s journey back to Glasgow was anything but straightforward. After leaving Celtic in 2025 for Rennes, a move that promised a new chapter in his career, the striker struggled to find form and rhythm in France. Six appearances, zero goals, and limited opportunities quickly made it clear that the move was not working. A subsequent switch to Birmingham City offered more game time, but once again, the goals dried up. For a player who once terrorised defences across Scotland and Europe, it was a humbling period.

Looking back on that time, Kyogo admitted the hardest part was not the lack of goals, but the feeling that his legacy at Celtic had been erased.

“I gave everything to Celtic,” Kyogo said. “The goals, the trophies, the big nights  I thought that meant something. But when I was struggling, it felt like I was easily forgotten.”

Between 2021 and 2025, Kyogo was one of Celtic’s most important players. In 116 appearances, he scored an incredible 63 goals, becoming a key figure in multiple title-winning campaigns. His movement, intelligence, and relentless pressing made him a fan favourite and a nightmare for defenders. Yet football, as Kyogo painfully discovered, moves fast.

According to the forward, there was little interest from Celtic when he first became available. No calls, no messages, no indication that a return was even being considered. That silence cut deep.

“At one point, I thought, ‘Maybe this is how football is,’” he explained. “You give everything, and then it’s over.”

What Kyogo didn’t know at the time was that behind the scenes, one voice was refusing to let him be forgotten. Celtic captain Callum McGregor, a long-time teammate and leader in the dressing room, stepped in when Kyogo needed it most.

Kyogo revealed that McGregor personally approached interim manager Martin O’Neill, urging him to consider bringing the striker back to the club. McGregor, fully aware of Kyogo’s quality and character, believed the forward still had a major role to play at Celtic  regardless of recent struggles elsewhere.

“Only one person really wanted me,” Kyogo said. “That was Callum. He spoke to the manager. He told him to contact my agent. Without him, I don’t think this return happens.”

For Kyogo, that gesture meant everything. At a time when confidence was low and doubts were creeping in, knowing that the club captain still believed in him reignited his motivation.

O’Neill, serving as interim manager, eventually agreed to make contact, opening the door for Kyogo’s return. The move was completed quietly, but the emotional weight behind it was anything but small.

Kyogo’s senior career has been a story of perseverance. From his early days at Gifu, where he scored 17 goals in 68 appearances, to his breakout spell at Vissel Kobe with 42 goals in 95 games, he has consistently had to prove himself. Celtic was where he reached his peak and where he now hopes to write a powerful second chapter.

The striker was careful not to attack the club or its supporters, instead focusing on gratitude and renewed determination.

“I don’t blame the fans,” he said. “They supported me every time I wore the shirt. But football decisions are made by people, and sometimes players are forgotten.”

Now back at Celtic, Kyogo says he will feel different more mature, more driven, and more appreciative of every opportunity.

“I know nothing is guaranteed,” he admitted. “I know i would work, fight, and to prove that I still belong.”

His words have resonated strongly with supporters, many of whom never stopped believing in him. Social media has been flooded with messages praising McGregor’s leadership and welcoming Kyogo home.

For Celtic, Kyogo’s return would be more than just a transfer. It is a reminder of loyalty, leadership, and the human side of football where belief from a single teammate can change everything.

As the January transfer window progresses, Kyogo is  once again ready to pull on the green and white hoops, carrying not just expectations, but a deeply personal mission: to remind Celtic, and himself, exactly who he is.