Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady has given his view on the imminent €30m transfer from Celtic to Saudi big spenders Al-Ittihad. Speaking on BBC Sportsound McGeady, who hung up his boots at the end of the season after an excellent career in the game, which included of course a big money transfer from Celtic to play in Russia, reckons that this move comes a little bit early in the Portuguese winger’s career.

“There’s two ways to look at it, Jota probably didn’t have any real loyalty to Celtic did he? It’s a short career and some people look at it like ‘I’ll make as much money as I can’.

“But in my mind I’d be thinking if you’re that good, the money will come to you eventually. I think he’s very young to be taking that step (to Saudi Arabia), it’s the established players just now who are going across there.

Assume circa figures. 30M Euros = £25.755M Jota fee (-) initial outlay £6.5M = £19.255M x 30% sell-on = £5.776M for Benfica. Celtic would receive £25.775M – £5.776M = £19.979M. Approx £20M. Celtic make an overall £13.5M Jota profit. Only outlay was in wages + bonuses. Good deal.

— Celtic Symphony (@DM8883) July 2, 2023

“I can’t speak for Jota, he might be getting life-changing money and he’ll be thinking ‘I can’t turn it down’, and he probably can’t. But I would’ve liked to see him stay at Celtic for another couple of years and then maybe try his lucky in the Premier League or somewhere else, and then that money that he’s getting just now would eventually come back to him.”

Meanwhile John Hartson disagreed with his former teammate Chris Sutton yesterday when he outlined his views on Jota’s proposed big money transfer to Saudi Arabia.

“Jota has been a marvellous player.. but the money the lad will earn is mind boggling .. £££ will turn players/ managers heads.. it’s a fact of life. Think would you leave your job for 6/7 times your salary. Absolutely you would!” Big Bad John stated, and it’s hard to disagree with that short assessment.

Jota has been a marvellous player.. but the money the lad will earn is mind boggling .. £££ will turn players/ managers heads.. it’s a fact of life. Think would you leave your job for 6/7 times your salary.,Absolutely you would !

— John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) July 1, 2023

Sutton used his Saturday morning newspaper column to have a go at Jota arguing that he is throwing his career in the bin for the sake of the big money on offer.

My @Record_Sport column on the young talented Jota and why his move to the Saudi league is all about the cash but as an actual footballing decision it’s a move he will live to regret…your thoughts?? https://t.co/YeHD9rTrut

— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) July 1, 2023

Judging be the comments from Celtic supporters there are certainly of folks supporting both sides of the argument. Guys like Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Christie left Celtic for the lower reaches of English Premier League and for more money, maybe £50k per week. Neither player is likely to win anything in the game after playing for Celtic for a much more modest salary.

Jota of Celtic scores their team’s second goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Rangers FC at Celtic Park Stadium on September 03, 2022 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Jota might not have the glory of playing for Celtic but for £200k per week he’s set up for life and don’t be surprised if UEFA find a way to fit the Gulf sides into the Champions League – there are plenty of countries playing in UEFA competitions already who are from outside of Europe.

His final touch of a football in a Celtic jersey was to put the ball into the back of the net to secure a world record treble for Celtic Football Club…🏆🏆🏆

Thank you Jota 💚 pic.twitter.com/bVLehDVqQS

— Aidan ❼ (@Aidan_Sellick) June 30, 2023

The alternative view to Chris Sutton’s was put very well on The Celtic Star by Just an Ordinary Bhoy, link below.

READ THIS…Chris Sutton is wrong, Jota doesn’t lack ambition

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