JOTA has been sensational again this season for Celtic after his loan turned permanent in the summer, putting pen to paper on a long-term deal.
Reuters/Carl Recine
The Portuguese star still impresses coaches from his own country, with his former coach talking extremely highly of him. The Benfica youth coach, Joao Tralhao, has watched some top players rise through the Portugal Primeira Liga, but still believes that Jota is up there with some of the best.
Branding the Celtic star ‘one of the best he’s coached’, Tralhao said:
“Jota, for me, is one of the best talents I have coached so far,” Joao Tralhao told the Daily Record
“He’s so talented and I have no doubts about the success he is having and will have in the future.
“He played first-team games for Benfica but it was felt he wouldn’t get enough game time and the decision was made for him to go abroad. To move to Celtic is great for him, they are a big club in Europe.
“Jota is doing so well there and helping Celtic to achieve another level. Jota is getting better and better at Celtic and I can see him going on to play for some of the biggest clubs in the world because he has the talent to be a truly amazing player.”
He’s also admitted he was pleased when the Celtic winger scored the peach of a free kick in Madrid, he said:
“When I saw Jota play against Real and score I had a big smile because it is so rewarding to see these boys do so well at the top level. If my work has helped them along the way then that makes me feel really, really happy.
“Jota has a star quality not only as a player but as a person. He’s full of character but very humble and a real family person. It is great to see Jota do well. I can see him making an impact on the Portuguese squad in the next year then becoming one of their most important players.”
Soccer Football – Champions League – Group F – Real Madrid v Celtic – Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain – November 2, 2022 Celtic’s Jota looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Susana Vera
Jota’s a top-class player, and with his skillset, it won’t be surprising when he moves away from Celtic. He’ll command a high price, with the Scottish club due a decent payday when Jota does move on.
He’s a top guy on and off the pitch; you can tell that in his interviews and fan interactions. As his former coach said, he is a truly humble and nice guy.
