FORMER Celtic favourite Stiliyan Petrov admits he was “surprised” at Kyogo Furuhashi’s £10million move to Rennes in January.
The 30-year-old Japanese international striker was adored by the fans after hitting the ground running as one of Ange Postecoglou’s first signings at £4.6million from J-League side Vissel Kobe in July 2021.
Kyogo made a sensational first impression on his debut at Parkhead when he thumped in a hat-trick in a 6-0 victory over Dundee just nine days after his arrival.
The love affair came to an end at the turn of the year with the pacy hitman saying au revoir after hitting 85 goals for the club.
LOST IN FRANCE…Kyogo Furuhashi is struggling at Rennes.
Petrov, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “I was actually surprised that Kyogo went to France. I don’t think Kyogo suits French football. This is just my opinion.
“The way they play, the physicality, the aggressiveness.
“I think Kyogo is a very classy player. He has to be in a team that dominates possession.
“He went to the team fighting at the bottom half of the table. When you go to a team like that and you switch from a team that dominates possession, winning every single game, it’s completely different
“You have to do more running, you have to do more defending.
“It’s a completely different concept.”
Petrov’s words are ringing true with Kyogo struggling to make an impression still waiting for his first goal from the Ligue 1 outfit.
He has had be content with fleeting first-team appearances and there has already been speculation he could move on again in the summer.
