Celtic sign Jota from Benfica
By Celtic Football Club
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/august/Celtic-sign-Jota-from-Benfica/
Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce that it has made its 11th signing of the summer transfer window, with the announcement that winger Jota has joined the club, subject to international clearance. Jota joins Celtic from Benfica in Portugal, on a season-long loan with Celtic having an option to buy.
The 22-year-old midfielder has featured 18 times for Portugal’s Under-21s side since 2018, scoring five goals along the way, and is a product of Benfica’s youth academy, having graduated to the club’s senior side in July, 2019. The winger spent the 2020/21 campaign out on loan, playing in Spain’s La Liga for Real Valladolid, before returning to the Eagles this summer.
Jota commented: “I am very happy to join such an historic and exciting team as Celtic. Having played in Portugal and Spain, everyone knows that Celtic is a huge name across Europe and a club with real heart and soul.
“It will be a pleasure and an honour to fight for this club and I can’t wait to feel the atmosphere from our supporters at Paradise. I know the Manager wants us to play fast, attacking football, the way it should be played and, I can’t wait to play my part in this.
“I will work hard to do all I can to make the fans happy and enjoy some good times together.”
Ange Postecoglou on Jota’s Celtic future – ‘if two parties want the same thing’
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou intimated that all contract talks have been placed on ice as his team seek to close in on the title.
By Andrew Smith
Sunday, 24th April 2022, 5:55 pm
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/ange-postecoglou-on-jotas-celtic-future-if-two-parties-want-the-same-thing-3666600
The impressive, and hiccup-free, 2-0 victory away to Ross County that has placed them within a derby victory next weekend of as good as sealing the cinch Premiership was underpinned by a best showing of the year from on-loan Benfica winger Jota. He netted his team’s clinching second late on after providing the cross Kyogo Furuhashi to score earlon on, which capped the Japanese forward’s first start in 2022 following injury.
But while the Celtic manager was content to concur with the sense of a return to his best for Jota, following reports from Portugal that the Glasgow club had decided against taking up their £6m buy option on the 23-year-old, Postecoglou batted away any talk of movement on securing the winger for next season.
“If anyone thinks we’re thinking of anything other than what happened today… For all of us the most important thing is that we work hard to get a successful year out of this [Jota loan deal],” the Australian said. “Whatever happens beyond that…these conversations. There are two parties and if two parties want the same thing, then it will happen. He was good. With him, he had such a great start to the year then he had a significant injury [towards the end of last year]. He’s another player who has just been really unfortunate this year with a disrupted year.
“He’s worked really hard to get back to the form we know he can. Today, he was really good for the team and had a good all round game. Just in that final third, he was looking threatening like we know he can be. It was great for him. Very few of our boys have had a smooth run this year and they’ve had to overcome difficulties and he’s one of them.”
Furuhashi is foremost among the Celtic personnel whose seasons have been abridged by injury, with today the first start since Boxing Day for the 27-year-old because of a hamstring issue. The club’s top scorer marked the occasion with a first goal – his 17th – since his double in the Premier Sports Cup final triumph over Hibernian on December 19.
“He’s a quality player and he would be missed at any club. We’ve managed really well without him but we know he’s got special qualities,” said the Celtic manager. “He’s not 100 percent sharp yet. If he was, he would have probably have had two or three today. Just getting that goal gives him the reward and hopefully the motivation to keep going. With him and Giako [Giorgos Giakoumakis] leading the line, we’ve got two strikers who I know have got goals in them and can give us some real cutting edge there.”
No, not a chance’ – Jota shuts down Celtic future talk after starring in Ross County win
Celtic winger Jota refused to entertain any discussions around his future after playing a starring role in a 2-0 win over Ross County that has put the league leaders within touching distance of the title.
By Matthew Elder
Sunday, 24th April 2022, 5:35 pm
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/no-not-a-chance-jota-shuts-down-celtic-future-talk-after-starring-in-ross-county-win-3666591
The Portuguese winger produced an inspired performance, scoring one and setting up the other, to ensure the Hoops restored their six-point advantage over Rangers at the top of the Premiership standings ahead of next week’s all-important Old Firm showdown at Celtic Park.
Jota clipped the perfect cross onto the head of Kyogo Furuhashi for Celtic’s 12th minute opener and went on to terrorise the County defence throughout the afternoon before showing netting a rebound to secure victory for the Hoops three minutes from time.
Doubts remain over the future of the on-loan Benfica star, with talks between Celtic and his parent club ongoing amid speculation over a possible £6million permanent transfer this summer, but Jota insists he is not looking beyond the end of the current season.
“No, not a chance. I am just enjoying day by day,” was Jota’s reply when asked whether he has given any thought to where he will be playing his football next season.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: “It has been a terrific season for me so I am just enjoying getting to know the people around me. Be a better person, be a better football player, I am learning every day with quality people. So that’s what I’m doing now. I don’t have to talk about that, I just want to enjoy and give everything for this shirt. As a football player, you need to keep your mind on the pitch that is all that matters. Contract things are for other times, so let me just play football and enjoy it.
“As football players we need to keep our minds on the pitch and that’s all that matters. Bureaucratic things are for another time. So let me just play football.”
‘I just fell in love’ – Celtic confirm Jota signing on 5-year deal in £6.3m deal from Benfica
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/i-just-fell-in-love-celtic-confirm-jota-signing-on-5-year-deal-in-ps63m-deal-from-benfica-3752482
Celtic have confirmed the signing of Portuguese winger Jota on a permanent deal.
By Joel Sked
Friday, 1st July 2022, 9:42 am
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The 23-year-old has signed a five-year deal after impressing on loan last season.
Celtic are expected to pay Benfica £6.3million for the transfer with the Portuguese giants having a 30 per cent sell-on clause.
Jota was a key player under Ange Postecoglou as Celtic won the Premiership and League Cup. he hit double figures in goals and assists in 40 appearances across all competitions.
He admitted he fell in love with the club last season.
“I’m feeling great,” Jota told CelticTV. “It’s a tremendous step in my career.
“I’m really happy to have joined Celtic and I just want to give some joy to the fans, to our team and conquer as many things as we can.
“It was a great experience last season. I already knew, more or less, how big Celtic was but I think people only realise once you are inside the club and inside the structure.
“With the season that we had with all the winning and all the trophies, I think it was very good for everyone, and I just got to know the club in another perspective, and I just fell in love. So I think it’s a good time to be here and I just want to develop.”
Jota is the fourth summer signing after Cameron-Carter Vickers, Benjamin Siegrist and Alexandro Bernabei.
He will now look forward to playing in the Champions League group stages.
“Ange has a philosophy of the game which wants us to be better in every training session and every game, so he aims for us to be better and better every week, and that’s something a player likes because there’s no point staying on the same level always,” Jota said.
“You want to develop, you want to be better and you want to achieve other things and at the club we’re ready for that and we’re getting ready for all the competitions ahead.
“Pre-season is always a very important time for us to prepare for what’s ahead because during the season we don’t have the time to be meticulous about all our tactics or whatever.”
Jota explains emotion of scoring for Celtic in the Bernabeu as he hails ‘personality’ of team despite 5-1 defeat
Celtic winger Jota believes the “personality” of Ange Postecoglou wasn’t to be denied even in a Champions League campaign that proved decidedly unproductive in terms of results.
By Andrew Smith
And the 23-year-old, working his way back from injury, admitted it finished with a moment of personal satisfaction he could share with his nearest and dearest. That came thanks to the second half substitute striking with an exquisitely flighted free-kick six minutes from time in the 5-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Bernabeu.
“We knew what our plan was and we tried to play our game,” said the Portuguese attacker. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win, but there are a lot of good points. There is a lot of personality in our team. We played to score and to be active and direct.
“[With my goal] it is every kid’s dream. All of us grew up watching these teams and the Spanish league as well. So it was a very good moment for me. My family was in the stands and it was just a proud moment for me and my family. They are a big pillar in my life and without them I don’t think I would have got to this level and achieved this.”
Celtic winger Jota celebrates after scoring a consolation free-kick in the 5-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Bernabeu. (Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)
Celtic winger Jota celebrates after scoring a consolation free-kick in the 5-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Bernabeu. (Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)
Jota won’t be constantly checking his phone over the next few days to see if he fulfills another dream with the player featuring on the 55-strong long-list ahead of his country naming their 26-man squad to go to the World Cup in Qatar in a fortnight. “I am someone who thinks day by day, so my thought right now is to train very good and be ready for the next game,” he said. “Whatever comes will come naturally. I am not obsessed by anything. So I just want to be happy, a better person and a better player.”
Saudi Champions Al-Ittihad sign Jota from Celtic
Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/saudi-champions-al-ittihad-sign-jota-celtic-2023-07-03/
July 3, 202310:54 PM GMT+1Updated 9 hours ago
Scottish Cup Final – Celtic v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Soccer Football – Scottish Cup Final – Celtic v Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – June 3, 2023 Celtic’s Jota celebrates scoring their third goal Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo
July 3 (Reuters) – Celtic winger Jota has joined Al-Ittihad on a three-year contract, the Saudi Pro League champions announced on Monday.
Financial details were not disclosed but Scottish media reported the transfer fee was 25 million pounds ($31.73 million).
Al-Ittihad announced the deal by publishing an animated video of coach Nuno Espirito Santo watching Jota’s goals.
“We want to conquer the world,” the former Wolverhampton Wanderers coach said in the video with the FIFA Club World Cup in the background.
Al-Ittihad will participate in the Club World Cup which will be held in Jeddah in December as champions of the host country’s league.
Jota, 24, becomes Al-Ittihad’s third signing after Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante.
The former Benfica forward scored 28 goals and made 26 assists in 83 games after moving to the Scottish champions in 2021.
The Saudi Pro league has become an attractive destination for Europe-based players since Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr last January.
Last month, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced a Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project involving Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal.
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PIF owns 75% of each of the four clubs, while their respective non-profit foundations own 25% of each.
Video: Jota finally responds to Celtic exit in emotional clip
Video: Jota finally responds to Celtic exit in emotional clip
By Peter Brown 9 July, 2023 No Comments
Jota of Celtic celebrates after scoring the second goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park Stadium on September 03, 2022. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
After his recent Celtic exit, Jota has this evening sent out this emotional video message to the Celtic support who have been wondering why he hadn’t said his formal goodbyes after two unforgettable years wearing the Hoops with such distinction.
The Celtic hero joined Al-Ittihad in a £25m deal that caught many Celtic fans by surprise. The main feeling that surrounded Jota’s move was shock, his transfer happened so quickly and without any warning. many Celtic fans were also hurt by the radio silence displayed by Jota during the breaking transfer news. Jota played a crucial role in Celtic’s success this season, so it was understandably hard to watch him leave the club.
However, Jota has recently posted an emotional video on his Instagram account speaking directly to the Celtic supporters. Here’s what Jota has had to say today.
“No words will ever express how grateful I am for this ride. Let me tell you something, what a f**king ride.”
“I stepped into Paradise as a young lad with dreams to fulfil and a single goal, to find happiness doing what I love the most. I was scared, I had doubts, and I didn’t know what to expect from something that in the end turned out to be one of the most beautiful stories ever.”
Jota of Celtic celebrates after scoring only goal of the game during the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 30, 2023 in . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“People often ask me what is so special about Celtic and I feel like there’s no straight answer. There’s no fair answer for it. The answer lies in a deep feeling, a sense, an emotion. There’s a mystical fog flowing around Celtic Park that induces you to this sense of football edge. This football heritage gave us unforgettable moments and you can’t explain it, you need to feel it. You need to respect it.”
“I’m such a lucky man to have lived two years of excitement and getting to evolve as a football player and as a person. To the players, to the staff and for all of the involved departments, a big thank you from me. You made me better.”
Jota of Celtic FC controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic FC at The Marshall Jozef Pilsudski’s Municipal Stadium of Legia Warsaw on September 14, 2022 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)
“To the fans, and I always say this, you guys found a way of loving me more than my previous girlfriends and I guarantee you that we were crazy in love. For what matters, I think I loved you more than them so believe me, I’ll love you for life.
“I’ve recently learned that happiness is not found at the finishing line, it lies in the path. I am grateful for every raindrop in Glasgow, and every trip to the Highlands, and wow those were long. Every bit of Glaswegian banter and so it goes on, so many stories, so many things to remember.
“Celtic will always have a special place in my heart, and one day my biggest dream will be to sit down with my kids and just tell them how magical and special this place is because life is all about stories and this one was just unbelievable.
“Today I become another fan, the one that lives and makes the club. Forever yours.”
Jota delighted to be back home in Paradise
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/january/27/jota-delighted-to-be-back-home-in-paradise/
First Team
By Celtic Football Club
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27 Jan 2025, 1:30 pm
Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce that Jota has returned to Paradise, the Portuguese winger signing a five-and-a-half-year contract, subject to international clearance, which will see him remain at the club until June 2030.
The 25-year-old joins from French side, Rennes, where he has spent the past six months following time in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad.
It is Jota’s second spell with Celtic, having initially joined the Hoops from Benfica back in 2021, on a season-long loan.
That first year proved to be a great success, with Jota playing his part in helping the club win the Scottish Premiership title and the League Cup.
And after making his move to Celtic a permanent one, he was an integral part of the squad which won the Treble in 2022/23.
In total, he scored 28 goals in 83 appearances for the Hoops and now he has returned to Celtic, joining Brendan Rodgers’ squad in the midst of what is already a very positive season.
The player himself is absolutely delighted to be back at Paradise.
Speaking exclusively to Celtic TV after signing for the club, Jota said: “It’s very nostalgic for me because it was such an amazing feeling and all the moments that I felt through my two seasons here, and I’m just delighted to be back. I’m really excited and I just can’t wait to start.
“The best thing in Glasgow, besides Celtic obviously, is the people and I feel like I need a place with soul, where I feel at home. This is definitely something I was looking for, and I think there is no better match than Celtic.
“I’m so excited. The last year-and-a-half has had its ups and downs, but that’s life and that’s how football is. Now I just can’t wait to work hard, to get along with the lads again and just to flow.”
And Jota also spoke about the pivotal role manager, Brendan Rodgers, played in his return to Paradise.
“The manager was crucial in me coming here because he told me what he wanted from day one,” the player explained.
“We had really good discussions and we were very honest and, in the end, we believed in each other.
“For me, that’s the most important thing – someone who believes in me and someone that I believe in. And I think it’s a really exciting time to be working with someone who has achieved so much and who is giving so much joy and happiness to the Celtic family.
“Times have changed with new team-mates and a new coach but the idea and the path that Celtic always aims for is to go forward and it’s here, it’s part of the DNA.
“I just want to come and help as much as I can and to contribute to the team and achieve big things, just like in the past.
“The aim is to win matches and give joy to the fans, and in the end it’s about winning titles and that’s what we are here to do.”
Jota: I am buzzing to be home and can’t wait to get started
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/january/27/jota–i-am-buzzing-to-be-back-home/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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27 Jan 2025, 5:32 pm
The news of Jota’s return to Paradise has been met with equal amounts of joy and excitement from the Celtic faithful, with the Portuguese winger signing a five-and-a-half-year deal with the Scottish champions.
And, after his glittering first spell with the club, it’s no wonder that there is so much happiness surrounding his arrival back at Celtic Park.
First time around, Jota was a pivotal player as the Celts racked up back-to-back titles, securing a league and League Cup double and then an historic domestic Treble over his two seasons with the Hoops.
He scored 28 goals in 83 appearances throughout that time, lighting up matches with the type of magical skill and creativity that are synonymous with great Celtic wingers.
And the excitement about his return to Celtic Park isn’t just felt by the Celtic support, with Jota himself admitting that it feels good to be home.
Speaking to the media at Celtic Park this afternoon, the Portuguese winger shared his own joy at being back in Glasgow’s East End as he looks forward to making an impact in the green and white again.
“I am buzzing,” he said. “It feels like home and for me, that’s something I was aiming for.
“Today, going to Lennoxtown and to training, it felt nostalgic, but it felt like I had never left, that’s the feeling at the moment.
“It’s been a year-and-a-half with some difficulties, mainly on the pitch where I didn’t have a lot of opportunities to play.
“Physically, it’s not my best moment, but that will come quickly with minutes, gametime and training, and I can’t wait for it.
‘I’m obsessed about football, and I always aim to have success and to give happiness and joy to the people who come to the stadium.’
“There’s definitely a lot of talent here, there’s room for improvement and under the orders of Brendan, there’s a good environment to develop and to win stuff.
“Once I had the time to think on it and I understood that this was the best step for my career, I felt like ‘okay, let’s go for it once again’, and it just feels right.”
Jota’s arrival will help to bolster Celtic’s first-team squad as they continue on their quest for a fourth consecutive title, aim to retain the Scottish Cup and look to progress beyond the play-offs in the UEFA Champions League.
And for Hoops boss, Brendan Rodgers, a player of Jota’s quality will be a welcome addition to the squad as the big games continue to come thick and fast for the champions.
Brendan Rodgers and Jota were like ships passing in the night when the Celtic boss arrived in the summer of 2023, around the same time that Jota departed the club for pastures new, but the Portuguese winger has said that the manager was pivotal in making the move a reality as he spoke about his excitement at working with the Celtic manager.
He added: “Brendan was a key part of the move. I’ve spoken to him a couple of times and I think he understood my position and I understood his ideas and philosophy.
“I think he’s a great manager for Celtic and we’re on the move to make great things, so I’m very excited to work with him.
“Celtic have a very specific way of playing, a dominant way – attacking, scoring goals, giving joy and happiness to the fans.
“That’s all I’ve dreamed of since I was a young guy, and now I have the opportunity to do it again in such a wonderful club.”
Celtic seal Jota return – fee, length of contract and how Brendan Rodgers was so important in deal
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Sports Editor
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/celtic-seal-jota-return-fee-length-of-contract-and-how-brendan-rodgers-was-so-important-in-deal-4962093
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Published 27th Jan 2025, 13:42 GMT
Updated 27th Jan 2025, 13:43 GMT
Portuguese forward is back at Celtic Park on long-term deal
Celtic have confirmed the return of Jota, with the Portuguese forward signing a bumper five-and-a-half year contract after his transfer from Rennes was confirmed.
Jota was a huge success at Celtic for two seasons between 2021 and 2023, before he was sold to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad for fee believed to be in the region of £25 million.
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His time in the Middle East and subsequently Rennes has not gone according to plan and with Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi set to seal his move to the French Ligue 1 outfit, the way was paved for Jota to return to Celtic.
Jota has signed for Celtic from French side Rennes.
Jota has signed for Celtic from French side Rennes. | SNS Group
The terms of the transfer have not been disclosed, but Celtic are understood to have paid a fraction of what they recouped from Al-Ittihad 18 months ago with a fee of around £8m. The former Benfica player is contracted to the Parkhead side until the summer of 2030.
Jota explained the part that current manager Brendan Rodgers played in persuading him to return to Celtic Park. “The manager was crucial in me coming here because he told me what he wanted from day one,” the 25-year-old continued. “We had really good discussions and we were very honest and, in the end, we believed in each other.
“For me, that’s the most important thing – someone who believes in me and someone that I believe in. And I think it’s a really exciting time to be working with someone who has achieved so much and who is giving so much joy and happiness to the Celtic family.
“Times have changed with new team-mates and a new coach but the idea and the path that Celtic always aims for is to go forward and it’s here, it’s part of the DNA. I just want to come and help as much as I can and to contribute to the team and achieve big things, just like in the past.
“The aim is to win matches and give joy to the fans, and in the end it’s about winning titles and that’s what we are here to do.”
“I’m buzzing at the moment, it feels like home,” Jota tells The Celtic Star
“I’m buzzing at the moment, it feels like home,” Jota tells The Celtic Star
By Conor Spence 28 January, 2025 No Comments
Jota’s return
Jota’s return to Celtic. Photo Celtic FC
Jota spoke to The Celtic Star at yesterday’s fan media conference after securing a sensational return for £9m from Rennes with Kyogo heading in the other direction….
Here’s everything that the four fan media outlets asked Jota and the interesting replies given from our returning Superstar from Portugal. I was delighted to be there, representing The Celtic Star and asking the first three questions. Here’s what happened…
The Celtic Star: How does it feel to be back?
Jota: “I’m buzzing at the moment; it feels like home and for me that’s something that I was aiming for. Today going to Lennoxtown and training etc, it just felt like nostalgic, but it felt like I’ve never left, so that’s the feeling at the moment.”
The Celtic Star: Talk us through the decision to come back and I suppose you would say it was an easy one?
Jota: “Yeah, well, never easy, right? Because all the decisions have the ups and downs and you need to be smart on the steps that you are going to take, but once I really had the time to think on it and I understand that this was the best step for my career at this moment, I felt like, okay, let’s go for it once again and it just feels right.”
The Celtic Star: You had so much success here and it wasn’t long ago, so how confident are you that you can pick up where you left off?
Jota: “I hope so. It’s obviously been a year and a half with some difficulties, mostly on the pitch where I didn’t have a lot of opportunities to play and obviously physically it’s not my best moment, but that will come quickly with minutes, game time, training and I just can’t wait for it.”
Fan Media: It’s a new manager, some things are the same, but a new manager, some new players, what is it about this current set-up itself that makes you think you can thrive again here?
Jota: “I’m just getting to know some of the lads. I think only nine players remain since the last time, so I think it’s not the best time to say that. I hadn’t had the time, but definitely there’s a lot of talent, there’s room for improvement and under the orders of Brendan, I think there’s a good environment to develop and to win stuff.”
Fan Media: You talked about how the last 18 months have been quite challenging. Can you just talk us through that and what it’s been like, your journey since you left Celtic?
Jota: “It’s life, isn’t it? It’s choices that you make, and you have to live with them, and you have to go through them. I think I’m someone that believes that we shouldn’t go outside or try to feel different things, no, you really need to go through it. I was no different from that, so I’ve learned a lot of stuff. I’ve known myself in different ways that I didn’t know, and I think that’s all positives in the end of the day because I’m much more mature, I have a different vision from what I want and what I want to achieve and I’m very aware of myself, so in the end that’s what I take from it.”
Fan Media: How different is the Jota that’s arriving here today than the one that initially joined Celtic in the first spell?
Jota: “I wouldn’t say much different. I’m obsessed about football, and I always aim to have success and to give happiness and joy to the people that come to the stadium, to me, to my family. In the end of the day, it will always be about that, so I wouldn’t say I come differently. Maybe in personal terms, obviously, because I’ve had quite a long journey, but in football terms, I would say that my goal and my aim is still the same.”
Fan Media: Kyogo has obviously left the club at the same time that you’ve arrived today. Is that a shame, just given the fact that the two of you linked up very well in your last spell here?
Jota: “Kyogo is definitely someone that I have a very good relationship with on the pitch. This is football. Everything changes from one moment to another and I wish I could still play with him more times, but as I told you, the wheel of football is always moving and then you just need to adapt yourself.”
Fan Media: How long have you known that this move might be in the pipeline and what was your reaction when you first heard of Celtic’s interest, and you might have the opportunity to come back to the club?
Jota: “Well, obviously, I kept in touch with a lot of guys from Celtic and even sometimes it was a joke like, hey, why don’t you come back? There was always this feeling that, OK, we know that there is a very good place over there, something that I felt really good, so why not coming back one day, you know? Obviously, and I’m being truthful, I didn’t know that it was going to be so fast like this, but the last year and a half, it felt like 10 years. So, coming here, it’s just like a great feeling of joy and happiness and I just feel at home. And then things just started to happen really quickly and once I got in touch with everyone, and I felt like, OK, it’s actually what I need for my life and that’s what I’m going to bet on. It just happened naturally.”
Fan Media: Is that the key thing for you? You’ve only played, I think, 26 games since you left. Is it just about getting back in the pitch and kind of rediscovering your confidence?
Jota: “Yeah, 100%. I think, obviously, there’s a period of time that I will need because it’s a long time and I always say this, that there’s no amount of training that can give you what the game gives to you because it’s just different. So that’s what I’m looking for now, just to get back feet and train hard, play harder and just have the same happiness that I had before.”
Fan Media: What can you say about the influence Brendan Rodgers had on you signing here and the discussions you’ve had with him?
Jota: “I think he was a key part on the move. I’ve had a couple of talks with him. I think he understood my position. I understood his ideas, his philosophy and I think he’s a great manager at the moment for Celtic and we are on the move to make great things. So, I’m very excited to work with him.”
Fan Media: You mentioned it felt like 10 years ago. Did you appreciate what you had here more when you were away, and you look back on it?
Jota: “Yeah, I would say so. Because it’s only when you leave that you can look back and see, I had that, I had this. But it was not just that. Through the places I was, I gained other stuff that I didn’t gain here, and I developed myself in a personal way that I didn’t know. So that was actually really good for me as well. In the end, it was just like going through processes, difficulties and overcoming them. And yeah, I’m proud of myself on that matter.”
Fan Media: You said you kept in touch with your teammates. Were you still in the group chats?
Jota: “No, no, no. Can you imagine the amount of messages I would receive? No, no, no, no. I wasn’t in the group chats. I kept on speaking with some of the guys personally and obviously I kept following Celtic. But not in the group chat.”
Fan Media: Were a few of your former teammates quite persuasive, trying to get you back?
Jota: “Like I said before, some of them always said that like in a joke, but it was a joke that it was a bit of truth. You know, we never know. But well, in the end, it happened. And right now, this is reality. And the most important thing is that I’m really happy to be here and I can’t wait to go.”
Jota returns to Celtic
Jota returns to Celtic. Photo Celtic FC
Fan Media: I’m sure you’ve seen a few of the games. The way Brendan Rodgers plays, it seems like it would really suit your game. Is that what you hope that you can hit the ground running? It’s perfect for you in a way.
Jota: “Yeah, that’s what I hope. I think Celtic has a very specific way of playing, a dominant way, attacking, scoring goals, giving joy and happiness to the fans. And I think that’s all I’ve dreamed of since I was a young guy. And I have the opportunity now to do it again in such a wonderful club.”
Fan Media: I think you’ve probably seen some of the reactions from the fans. They’re quite excited the way you came back. Have you experienced that first hand?
Jota: “I haven’t yet. Everything is just happening really fast, so I haven’t had the opportunity to see anything. I’m not much on social media either, so maybe I’ll give a moment to that later.”
Welcome home Jota!
Conor Spence