Kyogo Furuhashi has opened up about the new challenges he will face in France with Rennes, believing they could help reignite his international career with Japan.
The 30-year-old striker made a surprising exit from Celtic last week, completing a £10 million move to the struggling Ligue 1 side, who are currently fourth from bottom, just five points above the relegation zone.
Kyogo, who scored 85 goals for Celtic after joining from J-League club Vissel Kobe in July 2021 for £4.6 million, was under contract at Parkhead until the summer of 2027.
However, he pushed for a transfer and made his debut for Rennes on Sunday, playing 66 minutes in their crucial 1-0 victory over Strasbourg.
The quick and agile forward has chosen a completely new environment in his bid to catch the attention of Japan’s national team coach, Hajime Moriyasu.
Kyogo was left out of Japan’s squad for the 2022 World Cup Finals and the subsequent Asian Cup, but he is determined to earn a spot in the squad for the next global tournament, set to take place in Canada, the USA, and Mexico next year.
The former Celtic fan favorite, as reported by the Daily Record, said: “I think that if I can prove my strength in France by playing every week, I will be called up by the national team again and I will be able to show a different side of myself.
“I cannot claim to be called up with certainty, but if he can demonstrate my ability at Rennes, it definitely adds to my chances.
“I just want to make an impact here and create chances for my team-mates and, of course, I’m very pleased we won in my opening game.
“There are a lot of players in France with very high technical abilities and I know I will challenge myself every day.”
