Our former Superstar from Portugal just can’t stop talking about Celtic…

Jota of Celtic celebrates at the final whistle as Celtic beat Rangers 2-1 in the Viaplay League Cup Final at Hampden Park on February 26, 2023 (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Jota, our former talisman left the Hoops in the summer of 2023 in a sensational £25m move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad but things never quite got going for the Portuguese winger in the mega-rich Gulf state.

A January 2024 move to West Ham fell through

A January move to the Premier League to play for West Ham fell through, amid concerns over a large tax bill Jota would face if he returned to the UK, so there was never any realistic chance of a quick-fire return to Celtic in the summer as Jota looked to end his money-making hell. Instead Jota headed to French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais FC in Brittany and they are going to need his superstar qualities pretty quickly by the look of thing over there.

Jota (Stade Rennais) : Stade Rennais vs AS Monaco – Ligue 1 – Journée 7 – 05 10 2024 Photo Baptiste Autissier Panoramic

Rennes currently sit in 13th spot in Ligue 1 losing to two of the title challengers, PSG and Monaco in recent weeks and drawing with both Lens ahead of those defeats and local rivals Brest at the weekend.

Le Havre’s small part in Scottish football history

They take on another local rival this weekend, welcoming Normandy side Le Havre to the 30,000 capacity Roazhon Park on Friday evening. You might recall Celtic playing Rennes there a few times and Le Havre deserve a little mention as they were scheduled to play Rangers FC in a pre-season friendly in July 2012 but the game at their 25k capacity Stade Oceane had to be cancelled because by July 2012, Rangers FC no longer existed as a football club. True story that!

Other games in Germany were also cancelled as was a testimonial match against Kelty Hearts all for the same reason. It sort of destroys the continuity myth that they all hold dear.

Jota celebrates with Callum McGregor after scoring Celtic’s third goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on April 08, 2023 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Anyway, back to Jota and his appreciation of his wonderful few years at Celtic. The move to Saudi Arabia came out of the blue and the deal was so lucrative for both Celtic and the player personally that neither could say no. The downside was that he was loving playing his football at Celtic and couldn’t get enough of the love and affection he was afforded from an adoring Celtic support who really did take the former Benfica forward to their hearts.

It all left a long-last impression on the 25 year old from Lisbon as he explained in his interview with a French newspaper last week.

“You had to be in Glasgow at that moment to feel it”

“You had to be in Glasgow at that moment to feel it. Playing at Celtic Park, feeling the love of the fans, having the chance to be coached by an incredible coach (in Ange Postecoglou) in a group where everything turned out well. You have to thank everyone for what happened there,” Celtic’s former Superstar from Portugal told Ouest France.

“I hope one day to be able to show my children what it was like, all the love I received. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. It touched me because I didn’t expect it. When they started singing it, it was a very special moment.”

Popstar Ellie Dixon came to Paradise to sing ‘Jota on the Wing’

Remember the day singer and songwriter Ellie Dixon sang Jota on the Wing to 60,000 Celtic supporters in Paradise who formed her backing choir? He really was our Superstar from Portugal!