FILIPE JOTA has sent a heartfelt message to Celtic fans following his rapid Β£25million exit for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettihad.
The fans’ favourite bowed out with the third goal in the Hoops’ 3-1 Scottish Cup Final triumph over Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden on June 3.
Jota was pivotal to the team’s success as they lifted five of the six domestic trophies up for grabs in his two years at Parkhead. He arrived as a virtual unknown on loan from Benfica and persuaded Ange Postecoglou to splash Β£6.5million to make the deal permanent last summer.
The exorbitant transfer fee plus wages quoted at around the tax-free Β£10million-per-year category made it impossible for the move to be blocked.
WINNER…Filipe Jota heads the only goal of the Scottish Cup semi-final behind Ibrox keeper Allan McGregor.
CLINCHER…Filipe Jota squeezes the third goal behind Inverness Caley Thistle keeper Mark Ridgers to seal the treble.
As the 24-year-old Portuguese winger prepared for a new career in the Gulf State, he took to Instagram to thank the Hoops support for their backing in his all-too-brief time in Glasgow.
Jota said: “You guys found a way of loving me more than my previous girlfriends.
“And I guarantee you that we were crazy in love. For what it matters, I think I’ve loved you more than them so believe me, I love you for life.
“No words will ever express how grateful I am for this ride. I’m such a lucky man to have lived two years of full excitement and getting to evolve as a football player and as a person.”
WHOLE JOTA LOVE…the Portuguese winger acknowledges the Celtic fans.
The flamboyant flanker added: “I’m grateful for every raindrop in Glasgow, every trip to the Highlands and, wow, those were long.
“Celtic will definitely always have a special place in my heart and one day my biggest dream will be to just sit down with my kids and tell them about how magical and special this place is.
“To the players, to the staff and for all of the involved departments, a big thank you from me. You guys made me better.
“Today, I become another fan.”
π΅πΉ | π π€π©π – πΎππ‘π©ππ πππ§ππ¬ππ‘π‘ πππππ€ ππ
Well, there's goodbye posts… then there's this π’π
Jota, thanks for everything & hopefully we meet once again at Paradise π
Our superstar from Portugal πpic.twitter.com/FGDikH4idD
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) July 9, 2023
