Portuguese winger Jota has made a sensational return to Celtic, 18 months after departing the club for a £25 million move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
His journey since leaving Parkhead has been anything but smooth, with limited opportunities in the Middle East and a difficult spell at French side Rennes. Now, the 24-year-old is back in Glasgow, eager to reignite his career and pick up where he left off.
Speaking to CeltsAreHere, Jota reflected on the lessons he’s learned since his initial departure. “I mean, it’s life, isn’t it? It’s about choices you make, and you have to live with them. I believe you need to face those challenges and not avoid them. I’ve learned a lot and discovered different sides of myself I didn’t know before,” he said.
“In the end, it’s all been positive because I’m much more mature and have a clearer vision of what I want to achieve. I’m very self-aware, and that’s what I take from this journey.”
Jota’s first stint at Celtic saw him become a fan favourite, scoring some incredible gold and contributing to a treble-winning campaign. Asked whether he is the same player who left, Jota acknowledged personal growth but insisted his ambitions remain unchanged.
“I wouldn’t say much has changed. I’m still obsessed with football and aim to have success and bring joy to the people who come to the stadium—to me, to my family. In personal terms, yes, I’ve grown because I’ve had a long journey. But in football terms, my goal and aim remain the same.”
Jota’s return is a significant boost for Brendan Rodgers as the Hoops look to strengthen their squad for the remainder of the season. Having lost star striker Kyogo Furuhashi going in the opposite direction to Rennes for 10 million pounds. The fans will hoping for their hero to refind his form that made him such a fan favourite at Celtic Park.
