KYOGO FURUHASHI insists he has no regrets after leaving Celtic in January for a disastrous spell in France.
As the one-time Hoops fans’ favourite sealed his move to Birmingham City, he reflected on the £10million deal that took him to Rennes to end his three and a half years at the champions.
Kyogo figured only six times for the Ligue 1 side and, after claiming 85 strikes for the Parkhead club, didn’t hit a solitary goal for the club.
The 30-year-old Japanese international frontman is looking forward to teaming up again with ex-Celt Tomoki Iwata at the English second-tier outfit and, looking back on his time in Scotland, said: “I have good memories with lots of titles, so it was wonderful.
BLUE BHOY…Kyogo Furuhashi seals his move to Birmingham City.
“Lots of fans still say hello to me, so I felt I was really lucky.
“It was a difficult time for me in France, but I don’t have any regrets going there.
“I’ve gained some experience, so I’d like to use that here.”
Kyogo, speaking to The Blues media, continued: This is a new place and I’d like to do my best.
“There might be more pressure, but we will enjoy playing together on the pitch and fighting.
“I’m happy to be able to play with Tomoki again and he said the same, too. So, we’d like to aim to be in the Premier League together.”
Kyogo, who won eight honours in his stint in Glasgow, added: “I score goals because of team-mates, so I’m grateful for that. I’d like to achieve the same here and, hopefully, my goals will make everyone happy.
THE LAST HURRAH…Kyogo Furuhashi in Dingwall in January.
“Everyone wants to be in the national team and it’s the same with any country. I’d like to be in it and aspire to go to the World Cup.”
Kyogo, who fired in eight goals in 11 derby appearances, kicked off his Celtic career with a goal in the team’s 4-2 over FK Jablonec in a Euro tie in Slovakia on August 5 2021 and followed up with a hat-trick in his first outing at Parkhead in a 6-0 romp over Dundee three days later.
The pacy attacker, who cost £4.6million when Ange Postecoglou bought him from J-League side Vissel Kobe, netted his final goal when he hit a double in Brendan Rodgers’ men’s 4-1 win over Ross County in Dingwall on January 11.
