In what was possibly the busiest transfer deadline day in Celtic’s history, Leigh Griffiths’ final goodbye was followed by the announcement of his replacement, Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, but this was only the beginning of the ins and outs at Celtic Park. The next to follow was one that really excited the fans as Ange Postecoglou signed winger Jota from Portuguese side Benfica on a season-long loan with Celtic crucially having an ‘option to buy’ clause inserted.
The 22-year-old midfielder had featured 18 times for Portugal’s Under-21s side since 2018, scoring five goals along the way, and was a product of Benfica’s youth academy, having graduated to the club’s senior side in July 2019. The winger spent the 2020/21 campaign out on loan, playing in Spain’s La Liga for Real Valladolid, before returning to the Eagles that summer.
In his first interview with the official Celtic website, Jota had this to say regarding the type of player he is and what the fans can expect to see from him in the future:
“I’ll try to play football to score goals, to make assists and to put smiles on the faces of all of the Celtic fans. I will be very motivated to do that. It’s a very important club and I’m so happy to join it.
“In the four positions up top – left wing, right wing, as a number 10 or as a striker – I can play wherever the coach wants and I’m ready for anything. I prefer the left side, but if I have to play in another position that’s fine with me too.”
It was felt at the time that Celtic had pulled off a real coup getting the talented young winger to come to Glasgow, especially with the added bonus of having that ‘option to buy’ clause, something that many thought was highly unusual as Benfica are notorious for their shrewdness regarding transfer business.
Jota made his debut on the 11th September in the 3-0 home win over Ross County. He played the whole 90 minutes even though after the match manager Ange Postecoglou stated he hadn’t planned to keep the winger on the pitch so long but due to others picking up knocks he was forced to. Jota showed decent movement throughout, however overall it was a quiet enough debut.
It was in his next game though that we got to see exactly why the Portuguese star was so highly rated. He was excellent in an all action display against Real Betis in Spain, showing his speed, trickery and technical ability on top of supplying a wonderful cross for Celtic’s opening goal.
Since joining Celtic, Jota has made 20 appearances so far, scoring 8 goals and providing 6 assists. A fantastic return from the young winger who bedded into his new surroundings extremely quickly and soon became a vital member of Ange Postecoglou’s team. It was clear to see during Jota’s time out with a hamstring injury that we missed his attacking flair and goal threat.
Jota almost instantly became a fan favourite at Celtic. There is nothing Celtic fans love more than a player who can get them off their seats and the tricky winger certainly does that. The reception Jota received from the crowd whilst coming on near the end of the Hibs match last week, his first appearance since sustaining that injury back at the start of December, goes to show the high regard he is held in at Celtic Park.
After getting late run outs against both Hibs and Alloa, it’s hoped that Jota will be ready to start against Hearts midweek. It will be a welcome return to the starting line up, especially with Celtic yet again having to deal with more injuries to important players after being on the wrong end of a few ‘robust’ tackles at the Indodrill stadium on Saturday.
Jota has been a fantastic signing for Celtic. His goals and assists have been vital so far this season in helping Celtic maintain a strong challenge in the league as well as putting in some great performances in Europe. Although he missed the League cup final he was instrumental in getting us there so deserves credit for his part in delivering the first trophy of the season to Celtic Park.
It was hoped that Celtic could tie up a permanent move for Jota during the current transfer window, although this now looks unlikely. As the loan deal runs until the summer, and that is when the discussions about initiating the option to buy clause was originally due to be had, no Celtic fans should be losing faith in the deal being completed.
Any negative talk in the mainstream media that the player wants to continue his career with Benfica come the summer is just merely speculation, not once has a genuine source stated anything regarding him wanting to return to Lisbon. In all honesty I suspect it’s more the mainstream media hoping this is the case. I imagine Celtic hitting the jackpot by signing such a talented player, who will offer so much in the next few years before making the club a fortune when he decides to move on, would really upset some of the journalists that have an anti-Celtic agenda within the mainstream media.
One thing we know for sure is that Celtic have this wonderful player until the summer at least. With him in our ranks our chances of winning this year’s league title is massively increased, and with it that automatic place in next season Champions League guaranteed.
Now tell me this. In this situation would a young player who is adored by the fans of his current club, someone who enjoys playing the type of football Ange Postecoglou demands, with the carrot of impressing on the grand stage that is the Champions League dangling in front of him really want to return to the club that thought him surplus to requirements less than a year ago? I doubt it. I hope not.
Hopefully Celtic can push on in the second half of the season, win the league and all the benefits that come with it, then see what Jota wants to do. I hope, like the majority of the people reading this, that he decides Celtic is his future. If he does we are going to be blessed with an absolutely fantastic talent gracing the pitch at Celtic Park for years to come.
Special players like this only come along once in a blue moon. Let’s do everything we can come the summer to make sure he stays a while longer.
Conall McGinty
