Hearts star Claudio Braga has been told he’d be a star if he joined Celtic<\/a> this summer, as rumours continue to swirl regarding the future of Daizen Maeda.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Braga is revelling in being the poster boy of \u201ca beautiful story\u201d at Hearts that he feels is capturing the imagination of football fans all over the world.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like the team is helping me to get to places that I\u2019ve never been individually when it comes to interest and everything from Portuguese channels or journalists,\u201d said Braga, one of the nominees for the PFA Scotland Premiership player of the year award.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like it\u2019s been a beautiful story. Around Europe, even the world, people are looking (at Hearts) and they enjoy it. It\u2019s always a good story when somebody that is not supposed to win does good stuff.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody loves a good story. I\u2019m Portuguese, I don\u2019t 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).<\/p>\n \u201cPeople would look more at Scottish football if it\u2019s 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, \u2018oh, it\u2019s going to be Celtic or Rangers\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we do it they will think probably, \u2018we can do it also\u2019, so that would help Scottish football to get to a bigger level, I would say.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019d be a star at Celtic,” Dalziel said in quotes shared by 67 Hail Hail<\/a>, with Watt agreeing Braga could “play at Celtic no problem”.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n All comps<\/p>\n<\/th>\n Maeda<\/p>\n<\/th>\n Braga<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n Appearances<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 49<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 40<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Goals<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 17<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Assist<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n Martin O’Neill admitted this week that the Japan international could be sold this summer if he does not extend his deal.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got one more year. That would be something (a new contract) the club, and he would have to be talking about.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cIf he didn\u2019t 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<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n Should the Hoops be left with no choice but to cash in on Maeda, a move for Braga could well be in the pipeline.<\/p>\n \n Braga backed to replace Maeda at Celtic
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