Jota looks all but certain to seal a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia and sign a eye-watering £190k a week deal with Al-Ittihad.
It comes as a major blow as the Portuguese superstar was an important player for us over the last two seasons with his numerous goals and assists, he really is the real deal and it’s a disappointment to see him move on from Celtic so soon.
Some are surprised that he’s going to Saudi Arabia, but recently we’ve seen some of the biggest names in football move there, and of course the salary he has been offered would be hard for anyone to turn down, that is the reality. Going from £1.5m before tax to £10m tax free per annum is life-changing and you would struggle to think of a convincing argument to turn down so much money for kicking a football.
Realistically we also have to have one big sale to justify a summer spending spree due to Financial fair play rules. Our club is well run and we don’t want to fall foul of any financial breaches and the punishments they bring.
Jota has served us well, and will go with our best wishes, he’s contributed massively to our success the past two seasons. We will also make a tidy profit on his sale so everyone’s a winner, including of course Benfica who reportedly have a 30% share of the transfer fee after Celtic’s initial payment to the Portuguese club is deducted.
That will leave Celtic with a tidy £13m profit on the Jota deal and obviously the initial outlay paid to Benefica is also recouped so topping up this summer’s transfer kitty quite nicely.
Let’s just hope Celtic reinvest the funds wisely in players of the same calibre as our superstar from Portugal.
JustAnOrdinaryBhoy – follow on Twitter @ordinarybhoy
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I can think of numerous reasons why a decent human being would turn down a move to the murderous Saudi regime actually. Money or no money. I think the boy has a moral vacuum and is motivated by soulless greed like so many young airheads of his generation. Executed if you’re gay. Woman not allowed out the house without a male family member and murdered for breaking rules. Prisoners tortured. All of this and most likely sinking any hope he had of playing for his country. For what? So he can look at his bank balance app while sat on his PlayStation in his boring air conditioned apartment in a desert? Pathetic decision at 24. He has set a bad precedent also. The Saudi sportwashing regime will be very pleased they have lured a player in his prime rather than a retiree. It stinks.
Superstar ? Hardly. Is hot and cold – lots of step overs and a few important goals. Obvious why he would go – all that money and luxury against Sunday lunchtimes at Ross County. Lets get the money in and use Brendan’s contacts to get some CL quality.
Oh no! We’ll have to brace ourselves for crap like”I love Celtic and their fans” followed a few years later “The best years of my career were with Celtic and their wonderful fans!”.
Far better for them to be honest and say “I am only really interested in the money”.
And as Brian says, there are all sorts of moral reasons for not going there! Far better to be at Dingwall on a Sunday lunchtime, is it not? You at least have your self respect! A good player, but I cannot say I wish him well. Change your mind!