Former Celtic attacker Jota has been spotted by fans at Estadio Nacional in Lisbon. The 24-year-old left the Scottish Champions last season to join Al Ittihad in Saudi in a deal worth £25m. However, he made an emotional farewell video to confirm his departure.
Although, one year on, the player is clearly still enamoured by Celtic as he stopped to pose with fans outside the iconic arena in Lisbon.
Twitter user Kouassi’s Mohican updated fans to say that the winger loved Celtic but was not sure whether he’d be making a return.
Just went to visit estadio nacional and randomly bumped into jota – what a trip 🍀 pic.twitter.com/60e0qONh5q
— Kouassi's Mohican (@BoboBalde1888) July 11, 2024
Aye he said he’s not sure but he loves us
— Kouassi's Mohican (@BoboBalde1888) July 11, 2024
There have been links with a move back to the club but that would rely on the Saudis making a decision to move him on. Presently, they appear to be close to appointing Laurent Blanc – who will make his own decisions on the players.
Jota has made just 22 appearances in all competitions in Saudi, scoring four goals and assisting once. The form and (lack of) adulation in the Saudi Pro League is a far cry from his time at Celtic, where he produced extraordinary moments in the Hoops.
During two years in Glasgow, Jota 83 appearances for Celtic as they won five trophies. In those games, he scored 28 goals and assisted on 26 occasions, which resulted in links to a number of clubs.
Hopefully the clubs can get a deal together that would allow the player to return, which he clearly wants to, but the club have been seemingly sluggish in the window thus far.
Our club ain’t buying anyone ’cause the huns are shooting themselves in the foot so often.
The saying that goes “the time to strengthen is when you are at your strongest” seems to pass by DD.
Bring him back and stop messing him about get him back