Celtic winger Jota has said his goodbyes to the support after signing for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League last week. Jota had only posted about his move to the Middle East since the deal was announced, with some fans eager to hear from the winger about his time at the Bhoys.
The £25m player, who is thought to be earning eye-watering sums of money at his new club, uploaded a video to Instagram, directly addressing fans.
He said: “No words will ever express how grateful I am for this ride. I’ve 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.
“People often ask me what’s so special about Celtic and I feel like there’s no straight answer. There’s no fair answer for that. The answer lies in such 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 just explain it, you need to feel it, you need to respect it. I’m such a lucky man to have lived two years of full 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 guys made me better. 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. It definitely lies in the path. I’m grateful for every raindrop in Glasgow, every trip to the Highlands, every bit of Glaswegian banter and so it goes on, so many stories, so many things to remember.
“Celtic will definitely always have a special place in my heart. One day, my biggest dream will be to sit down with my kids and 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 ones that live and make the club. Forever yours.”
Jota made 83 appearances for the Bhoys, scoring 28 goals, assisting 26 more and winning five trophies in total. He will be missed and fondly regarded in Glasgow for a long time to come, despite his transfer exit.
In other news, What to expect this week as Celtic jet off to Portugal and ‘state of the art’ surroundings.
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