Football has changed beyond recognition in the past 20 years, it’s time folk realised that. The recent Saudi Arabian football revolution has been a major talking point the past month or so. Players have been moving from much more ‘fashionable’ leagues to settle in the mega-wealthy Gulf State.

Of course the ridiculous amounts of money the players can earn is alway the deal clincher. The salaries on offer are mind boggling and it shouldn’t come as a shock that players have no hesitation in upping sticks to the Arabian Peninsula.

We have found that out last night with the sale of our Portuguese superstar Jota. The winger has just signed an eye watering £190k a week three year deal with Saudi club Al-Ittihad in a transfer that also seen Celtic bank a whopping £25 million pus add-ons.

The majority of supporters understand Jota’s decision, but there is still that element who accuse him of showing a lack of loyalty and ambition, a mercenary in the words of some.

Such criticism is unfair and unwarranted. As already stated, football has changed beyond recognition in the last twenty year’s financially speaking, the sums of money on offer is frightening and clubs such as ourselves can’t compete, not in a million years.

You can’t blame players for being tempted by such sums, would you change jobs for twenty times your salary? Of course you would, without hesitation. Those who say otherwise are kidding themselves on.

Swedish coach and former football player Henrik Larsson arrives to attend the draw for the UEFA Europa League football group stage 2017/18 on August 25, 2017 in Monaco. Photo VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images

We’ve had plenty of players in our illustrious history who have been loyal and stayed at the club despite better prospects elsewhere. For example the King of King’s himself Henrik Larsson, who stayed at the club for a significant seven year period when he could have earned more money elsewhere, but not as a substantial amount as there is today. And before him there was Paul McStay, who could have played for any of the top clubs across Europe but decided to remain at Celtic through thick and thin, even in that awful period in the first half of the 1990s.

Players like The Kings of Kings and The Maestro were rightly lauded for their loyalty, but it would be a different story for such players in the modern game. It’s a totally different ball game and the only king now is money.

JustAnOrdinaryBhoy – follow on Twitter @ordinarybhoy

HUGE SAVINGS IN THE CELTIC STAR’S SUMMER SALE!

The Celtic Star’s Summer Promotion has been so successful, with hundreds of books at great prices being posted to Celtic fans all over the world, that we’ve decided to continue with the sale until the end of July. We’ve reduced all six books currently available from their usual retail price of £20 and prices are as low as £6 (see below).

All books are high quality hardback, with some signed by the author. And it’s also worth noting that you only pay postage on one book, so it’s free for the second, third and so on. ORDER HERE or click on The Celtic Star image above…this is how it feels to be Celtic!