Jota’s situation gets even more bizarre and has wider consequences for Saudi football

Our former superstar from Portugal Jota has been finding life quite tough in Saudi Arabia after his £25 million move to Al-Ittihad from Celtic.

He was reported to be surplus to requirements after only a few weeks in the Gulf State. This seems to have escalated after he was left out of their squad for the upcoming season to make way for incoming signing Luiz Felipe.

This means Jota will be sidelined and facing football wilderness after just a couple of months at his new club. It’s quite bizarre to say the least. It just goes to prove the crazy riches on offer in Saudi when a side can afford the luxury of binning a player they signed for £25 million and are paying the equivalent of £190k a week, after only a couple of appearances from the bench..

Jota of course will still be a very rich young man, but his footballing career will suffer a significant set back while he is sidelined. He is far too good a talent to be wasting away on the sidelines.

Football needs talents such as Jota, an entertainer and all round good guy. Hopefully he keeps his head down and works away and gets a move in the next window. He deserves so much more.

And the Saudi clubs might just find it harder to convince players to move to their league given the treatment that has been dished out to Jota. Other than the global superstars of the game and there are very few of them, players  might think twice before accepting the riches on offer – or maybe just demand more assurances with heavy financial penalties if what has happened to Jota, happens to them.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Celtic v Aberdeen – Tomoki Iwata and Jota celebrate after the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Saturday May 27, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan

READ THIS…Latest signing confines Celtic’s £25m export Jota to Saudi wilderness

Published by Celtic Star Books on Friday 20th October 2023
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About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

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