Jota hasn’t taken long to re-establish himself at Celtic.
The winger became one of the club’s most expensive sales when he left for Al-Ittihad but that move didn’t work out. To Rennes in Ligue 1 he’d go after that, but he struggled there too.
It would be a stunning Parkhead return for the Portuguese and Jota would cry tears of joy after scoring on his first match back away at Motherwell.
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Jota says he didn’t appreciate Celtic more just because of exit
He certainly now calls Glasgow his home and he has a special relationship with Celtic and the fanbase. But the 25-year-old has been philosophical when asked if his time away from the club has given him more of an appreciation.
“No, I wouldn’t say so,” Jota said after a pause.
“I think I was quite mindful about what I was feeling and what Celtic gave to me back then, so I was pretty grateful as well. So, no, I think my mentality was the same.
“For me, it’s like I never left. And when I came in for the first day, it felt like it was the same, and it gave me a lot of comfortable space to to live in really.”
It was an honest answer from a young man who always considers thoughtfully and carefully what he plans to say when undertaking his media duties.
Jota’s farewell message to Celtic back in July 2023 showed how much love he had for the club and that didn’t change while he was away.
Celtic and Glasgow is home to Jota who loves the club
He sat in front of a camera two years ago after, again, taking some time to think about what he wanted to say to the support.
It was only fair for the playmaker to earn the mega bucks in Saudi after what he had given the Hoops under Ange Postecoglou, and it’s a shame for him it didn’t work out long-term.
Of course, his comeback to Celtic wouldn’t have happened had he succeeded elsewhere, but he has done well since arriving back in the Scottish Premiership.
We’re simply happy to see the man playing with a smile on his face again.
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