Jota’s return to Celtic has been one of the most exciting stories of the January transfer window, but the Portuguese winger has found himself stepping into a very different dressing room from the one he left 18 months ago. Speaking at his unveiling that Celtsarehere was in attendance for, Jota surprisingly revealed that only nine players remain from his previous stint at the club, highlighting the significant turnover in personnel.
The likes of captain Callum McGregor, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Greg Taylor, and James Forrest are some of the mainstays who have remained at the heart of the squad. However, Jota now finds himself surrounded by a host of new faces as Brendan Rodgers’ team takes shape.
“I’m just getting to know some of the lads—only nine players remain since last time,” Jota said when asked about the current group. “So, I think it’s too soon to say [what the squad is like]. I haven’t had the time yet, but there’s definitely a lot of talent and room for improvement. Under the orders of Brendan, I think there’s a good environment to develop and achieve things.”
The challenge for Jota will be rediscovering his place in this revamped Celtic team. The chemistry he enjoyed with some of the now-departed players, such as Kyogo Furuhashi who went the other way to Rennes this week, was central to his success during his first spell. However, with Rodgers’ attacking philosophy, Jota seems confident he can adapt and thrive alongside the new arrivals.
While players like McGregor and Forrest have witnessed numerous transitions over their Celtic careers, it’s a new experience for Jota to rejoin a squad that has evolved so dramatically in a short space of time. However, with the winger’s natural ability and a manager who clearly values his style, the building blocks are in place for him to hit the ground running.
Jota’s familiarity with some of the club’s senior figures will no doubt help his integration. McGregor’s leadership will make sure he doesn’t skip a beat.
“I’m still just settling back in, but I’m really excited,” Jota added. “There’s so much talent in this team, and it’s going to be a joy to play alongside them.”
As Jota begins to find his feet again at Celtic, fans will be eager to see how quickly he can gel with his teammates, both old and new. With the Hoops still battling on multiple fronts this season, the 25-year-old’s return couldn’t have come at a better time.
