Rumors swirling around Jota’s potential summer return to Celtic have finally been quashed. The treble-winner made headlines with his £25 million move to Saudi Arabia last summer after enjoying two successful years at Parkhead. However, his time at Al-Ittihad has been far from smooth sailing, with Jota being inexplicably left out of the Pro League squad for the first part of the season. Despite only making sporadic appearances in cup competitions and the Asian Champions League, there was speculation that he could be on his way out of the club.
But following the dismissal of manager Nuno Espirito Santo, Jota was handed a lifeline by his successor Marcelo Gallardo, who reintegrated him into the team in January. Although his performances were not as prolific as before, the 25-year-old still managed to score five goals and provide one assist in 25 appearances by the end of the season.
Recent reports from the Middle East hinted at a potential return to Celtic for Jota, who reportedly expressed his openness to the idea of reuniting with his former club. However, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sport, Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud, has extinguished any hopes of this happening by emphasizing that Jota will have a fresh start under the new management for the upcoming season.
As part of a club backed by the Public Investment Fund and boasting high-profile signings like Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, Jota was one of the marquee acquisitions last summer. However, Al Saud stated that there are no plans to bring in more European stars, confirming that Jota will be part of the squad alongside Benzema, Kante, and other notable players for the next campaign.
So, despite whispers of a potential return to Celtic, it seems that Jota’s immediate future lies in Saudi Arabia, where he will have the chance to prove his worth and continue making his mark in the league.
