Former Celtic star Jota could be heading to French football to join Rennes, according to a reports in France.
Jota of Celtic celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and theRangers at Celtic Park on September 03, 2022. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Journalist Benjamin Quarez from French media outlet @le_Parisien reports as follows: “Jota should be in Rennes in the coming days. Negotiations are well underway for the Al-Ittihad winger. There would be little more to complete the deal.”
Celtic sold Jota to Al-Ittihad last summer for a sum in excess of £25m, however our ‘Superstar from Portugal’ has endured a torrid time in Saudi Arabia with little of the love coming his way from the club or that support, a huge contrast to his time in Glasgow.
Jota of Celtic scores their team’s second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park Stadium on September 03, 2022. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The money though is sensational and Jota is unlikely to be prepared to take too much of a pay cut to make the move to Rennes.
The Celtic France account comments on this news: “Our former Portuguese baller #Jota should sign for Rennes after his time in Saudi Arabia. I hope the people of Rennes enjoy it as much as we enjoyed it with him.”
Another French account, Actu Ligue 1, states:
“The player WANTS to join Rennes. The Breton club DISCUSSES with Al-Itihad.”
Jota devrait être Rennais dans les jours à venir. Négociations en très bonne voie pour l’ailier d’Al-Ittihad. Il ne manquerait plus grand-chose pour boucler l’accord #mercato @leparisiensport
— Benjamin Quarez (@B_Quarez) August 22, 2024
Notre ancien baller portugais #Jota devrait signer à Rennes à priori après son passage en Arabie Saoudite. Je souhaite aux rennais de kiffer comme on a kiffé avec lui.
— Celtic France (@Celtic_FR) August 23, 2024
🚨💣 BREAKING ! LE STADE RENNAIS EST BOUILLANT SUR LE DOSSIER JOTA ! 🇵🇹❤️🖤
Le joueur VEUT rejoindre Rennes. ✨
Le club breton DISCUTE avec Al-Itihad. 🇸🇦
(@MohamedTERParis / @OuestFrance) pic.twitter.com/hu5EkTCRPo
— Actu Ligue 1 (@ActuL1_) August 22, 2024
Plenty of Celtic supporters would love to see Jota returning to the club while the more pragmatic fans say that it virtually impossible given the huge wages Jota is on in Saudi Arabia. That may well be true but how then can Rennes afford such a deal?
:Jota of Al-Ittihad Club gestures during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Ittihad and Al Hilal on September 01, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
With Matt O’Riley on his way out the Celtic Board could have looked at this deal, just like Rennes has, and could have brought Jota back to the club, even if it turns out to be a loan. Jota for a season would have been joyous. Best of luck to him at Rennes.
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