‘BE EVEN GREATER,’ RODGERS OPENS UP ON JOTA ADVICE

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BRENDAN RODGERS expects Filipe Jota to return to the champions with “real motivation” in his bid to grow his Celtic legacy.

The Portuguese winger will be confirmed as a second time-around Hoops player within the next 48 hours as he joins from Rennes with Kyogo Furuhashi heading in the opposite direction in an extraordinary transfer double deal.

Jota left on a high after playing and scoring in the 3-1 Scottish Cup Final triumph over Inverness Caley Thistle on June 3 2023 that sealed the club’s world record eighth treble-winning achievement.

Manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed his departure for Spurs a couple of days later and then it was the turn of Jota to say farewell as the club accepted a £25million offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad.

FINAL FAREWELL…Filipe Jota holds aloft the Scottish Cup after Celtic’s 3-1 win over Inverness Caley Thistle on June 3 2023 had sealed the domestic treble. He left the champions the following month.

 Things turned sour very quickly for the 25-year-old touchline ace and he moved to France last summer. Once again, he failed to settle and he was quick to take the route back to Parkhead where he became a massive hit with the Hoops legions in his two seasons.

Jota won over a new army of admirers during his initial loan spell from Benfica and continued the feelgood factor after a £6million bid sealed a permanent switch.

Rodgers anticipates the player easing straight back into the Celtic fold and, asked if he thought the flamboyant flanker will have the same effect, answered: “Yes, I’m very confident.

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

“That connects him with the supporters. I was really looking forward to working with him.

“Then virtually before I’d arrived, it was very clear that he was gone.”

Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “That was disappointing.

HAPPY DAZE…Filipe jota silnces the Ibrox fans with another crucial strike.

“I’d 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 not to come back.

“Maybe for that [the memory]to be tainted in any way.

“My feeling and advice to him was, 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 gone for you, you know that this is a place where you will improve, you will develop.”

The Hoops gaffer added: “He’s at a different moment in his life now, as well, even though he’s been away only a few years.

“I think he’ll come back with a real motivation. He’s got undoubted quality, still got things he can prove to develop.

“He’s still young and when he comes through, I’ll be really excited to work with him. “

CELTIC GAME IN JEOPARDY

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