The saga surrounding former Celtic winger Jota and his potential return to Glasgow has taken a definitive turn.
Despite a challenging debut season with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, the door has been firmly closed on the possibility of him making a quick return to Parkhead, as if it ever was open. Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sport, has stated that Jota remains part of Al-Ittihad’s plans, dismissing ongoing rumours of an imminent exit.
Jota’s move to the Saudi Pro League last summer was a headline-grabbing affair, fetching a substantial £25 million transfer fee after a successful stint at Celtic, where he was pivotal in securing a domestic treble. However, his adaptation to Saudi football hasn’t been smooth. Unexpectedly left out of the league squad for the first half of the season by then-coach Nuno Santo, Jota was limited to appearances in cup ties and the Asian Champions League, fueling speculation about his future.
Addressing the situation, Minister Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud attributed the oversight to a misjudgment by the previous coaching staff and affirmed the club’s intention to rectify this. He stated, “Former coach Nuno Santo was the one who requested Jota after a letter reached the recruitment committee. But when you contract a player you want from your budget and he does not play, this gives us the impression that there is an administrative error that can be fixed.” [RecordSport]
