Jota convinced to make Celtic return after key conversation, manager on desire to work with star

Add as preferred source on Google

Jota was basically out the door at Celtic when Brendan Rodgers arrived.

The winger left Parkhead for £25million in 2023 but struggled to play at Al-Ittihad and was bombed out of their squad relatively quickly.

A move to Rennes eventually materialised but now Jota is set to return to Celtic with Kyogo heading the other way having already arrived in France to complete the £10m deal.

It is an exciting move for fans after Rodgers made it clear he wanted attacking options this window but for the playmaker it was a more difficult decision to make.

Jota loved his time with the Hoops before he left two years ago for Saudi.

• READ MORE: Louie Barry told he fits Celtic mold as ex-Hoops star offers scouting insight

Brendan Rodgers spoke ‘at length’ with Celtic target Jota

However Rodgers explained how there had been an apparent reservation from the Portuguese superstar about making a return to Glasgow.

Of course there is always a risk of a tarnished legacy when players go back to their old club but Celtic stars in particular have bucked that trend over the years.

Paddy Roberts had multiple loans with Celts while Emilio Izaguirre did a job on his second stint.

Fraser Forster was in a similar position and the manager himself has had an impact twice.

Kieran Tierney, like Jota, should make the January move back to Scotland, too.

But Rodgers has now explained how he had a lengthy chat with the attacker about making a comeback as he offered advice to add to his legacy as opposed to being worried about ruining it.

Rodgers was ‘excited’ to work with Jota before he left

“Yeah, I’m very confident. I think that there’s a possibility of him being able to come,” the gaffer said.

“He was one player that when I was coming back the first time, I was really, really looking forward to working with. I’d seen him play for Celtic, of course, and seen the impact that he made in terms of creating goals, scoring goals and that connection with the supporters.

“So, I was really, really looking forward to him and working with him. Then, virtually before I’d arrived, it was really agreed that he was gone. So, yeah, that was disappointing.

“I’ve spoken to him at length. The challenge always is, and I know through first-hand experience, is that when you’ve created a legacy, lots of people will tell you to come back and maybe for that to be dented in any way.

“But my feelings to him and advice to him was, to come back and grow that legacy to be even greater.

“If you’re not happy in your work where you are or how it’s going for you, you know that this is a place where you will improve, you will develop. And he’s at a different moment in his life now as well, even though he’s been away only a few years.

“So, yeah, I think that he’ll come back with a real motivation. He’s got quality, but still got things he can improve, to develop. But he’s still young and if the deal comes through. Then, I’ll be really excited to work with him.”