18 months, 19 substitute appearances and 20 starts after leaving Celtic, Jota is back! He first joined Celtic as a 22-year-old in 2021, part of a revolutionary intake that summer, which saw Ange Postecoglou, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kyogo, who passed Jota in the revolving door yesterday and became an instant success.
A five-and-a-half year contract for a player who turns 26 in March means the player should spend his best years at Celtic.
The €10m fee paid is approximately £17m less than the club received for him when he departed for Al Ittihad in Saudi, although that’s not all profit. Benfica received a significant slice of that fee, and we paid £6m for him initially. So we have paid approx. £14m (£6m and €10m/£8m), received £25m and Benfica earned just north of £6m kickback when he left Glasgow in 2023.
Benfica are £12m up for nurturing Jota, Celtic are up around £5m, despite having to sign him twice. The whole episode is full of lessons.
The first is for wingers. Why did such a talent fail to make the cut in Saudi and France? This goes back to a lesson we first learned with Patrick Roberts, also a prodigious winger. Players like Jota, Patrick and (I suggest) Nicolas Kuhn thrive in dominant teams. They have the craft to open up tight defences. This contrasts with the more athletic type of winger, commonly found in sides who dominate their leagues less than Celtic.
Look at the physicality of the wingers we face on Wednesday, or any winger outside the elite teams in England. They are generally taller and always strong. More like Daizen Maeda and James Forrest than Nicolas or Jota. Daizen would be first name on the team sheet for a side struggling in the French league. They need someone with the engine to get up and down the field all game. By contrast, a winger who can unlock a packed defence is superfluous to requirements.
There are also lessons for our player development strategy. I used to flinch when I read one of our teenage talents heading to Bayern Munich or Liverpool, less so Watford. Players who make it through the youth ranks at Celtic are already elite in some respects. A few are offered contracts for the first team and so many knock it back to try their chances elsewhere.
If it’s Jurgen Klopp or a Bayern Munich coach, can you blame them? Yes, of course, you can, but we need to learn to not worry about it. There is nothing we can do if the likes of Klopp gets in the room with a young Celtic player.
What if they are offered three times what Celtic assess is the going rate for their talents at Watford? We need to learn not to sweat this. The major work in player development is seldom their innate talent, it is more commonly their developmental path.
There is absolutely a lesson for Celtic from watching what Benfica do. A club who can afford to discard a talent like Jota, who was well down the Class of 2018 list, have different options from us.
Finally, we need to examine how we (and specifically who) identified Jota. That process also delivered Nicolas Kuhn and must be nurtured. I have my worries on that front.
Going forward, the job of Celtic centre forward is about to be come the easiest in the game. With defenders doubling up on Kuhn and Jota, there will be so much space through the middle, we might be able to bring back Albian Ajeti and still score goals!
Welcome home, Jota!
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It feels a wee bit of a risk to just have GT, who will be out of contract in summer, as our only left back for rest of season.
BURNLEY78 on 28TH JANUARY 2025 5:19 PM
Celtic40me
Unai Emery previous v Celtic.
I seem to recall it was a Neil Lennon managed Celtic which won in Moscow and again at Celtic Park against Spartak.
——
Then proceeded a few weeks later to lose a Cup semi final against…St Mirren.
KT signs a pre contract agreement for the summer
CCV confirmed out for tomorrow night.
Valle away to Como for medical – You’d like to think that means KT is all but in the building this week.
BR- KT pre contract confirmed, working to get him in now
One thing you can be sure of on this site is that no matter if things are going great, we celtic fans can always find something to disagree on:)))) Good to see Adam Matthews signing with Shamrock Rovers. Always liked him overlapping and finding wee Hooper. Should be a good game tomorrow.
Sean
Yorkbhoy
It appears that way.
“BURNLEY78 on 28TH JANUARY 2025 5:07 PM
The Hand of God
Leipzig lost every game bar 1 draw in November.”
Albeit indirectly in this case,why are you so keen on demeaning Celtic? I don`t remember you being like that before.
Bada,
Its more common for CCV not to play in CL games,than not train before.
Terrible CL injury record.
TB- If it’s an injury that needs an operation, do it after CL campaign, get it fixed
TURKEYBHOY on 28TH JANUARY 2025 7:25 PM
Bada, Its more common for CCV not to play in CL games, than not train before.
Terrible CL injury record.
*mibbees just mibbees this is why we are looking at a young centre half who BB can develop and mentor
Tontine,
He really has a bad injury record in CL games.
“TURKEYBHOY on 28TH JANUARY 2025 7:37 PM
Tontine,
He really has a bad injury record in CL games.”
I know what you mean but I don`t think it is a series of bad luck injuries. I think it is simply a weakness in the knee which needs game Management. Having said that, if he is missing a bigger percetnage of CL games than SPFL matches, then I am at a loss to explain that.
Hot Smoked
I did agree that Hand of God had a point. Leipzig had been doing well. The rot set in when they went to Dortmund and then played us at the start of the month and went on to only gain 1 point out of 6 games in total in the month. Losing their last game 1-5 to Wolfsburg. We were probably a trigger for their decline.
Overall I do think we should be careful to be too carried away as the OPTA shows this was an easy bunch of teams to play and goodness knows we were due a break in the draws. So we do need to recognise it and also consider if actually securing a top 16 place could have been more easy if we had gone for it in Zagreb. Who knows maybe even a Top 8 would have been within our grasp if we had got that result. Now we have no talismanic striker (which may have been avoided) and go into a game where we as a collective seem to be accepting it doesn’t matter if we win lose or draw. We should be seeing last 16 as the benchmark in my view. Celebrating the last 24 just seems a bit meh to me.
I will be cheering as loudly as anyone if we can get the result tomorrow and a seeded place with a draw away at Brest or Sporting or Feyenoord with a return at CP. A chance to progress for sure.
Nothing to lose tomorrow,but we dont want a doing.We SHOULD play 4-4-2 from the start.Villa have been starting strong recently,the falling away second half.Pundits saying they are a tired squad.They flew out the traps on Sunday,scored early,fell away,then W Ham dominated the whole second half.Still very good,middle to front,lot of talented players there.
Keep it tight,then have a go,if possible.Shame about Maeda.Stupid guy.Will miss his pace.
Listen,we could win tomorrow and get a terrible draw,lose and get a good one.All up in the air.At least we will know right away.
I do honestly think we could have had the 3 points easily in Zagreb.They were very poor that game.We were far too cautious.My big regret.I know people say” Its a point away”but,it could have been 3.
Hot Smoked,
I think he missed qualifiers a couple of seasons ago,early season,but we knew he would miss them.I am not being critical of the guy,anyone can be unlucky,as he has been for CL games.
“Burnley 78
OPTA shows this was an easy bunch of teams to play ”
I am not being picky but I don`t think there is such a thing as an `easy` game in the CL. Less difficult, yes but still difficult. Also, we have to remember that playing in the SPFL does not offer great preparation foCL games.
Anyway, thanks for the reply .
Have to go so,
Cheerio for now.
Thanks for the response .
In terms of players coming back to Celtic, I’d say it has been a mixed bag (the ones I remember anyway)
Nicholas – he had a good season in 91/92 where he bagged over 20 (as did Coyne and Creaney I think). Did Ok in a terrible team. I was chatting online to a Dons fan who said he should have stayed at Pittodrie as he linked really well with Hillhaus; could have stopped the hun 10 stone dead in 91
Mcavennie – never looked fit and never really worked out
Maloney – I thought he did well when he came back and unlucky with injuries
Walker – filled in OK in a transitional period. Not a bad move
Izziguire – came back as cover, did fine when used
Can’t think of any others
Burnley78
That article
1-Technically- no factually,we qualified by being champions,factually we are in the CL.
2-skin of teeth- we scored within 90 mins to give us qualification by rules of CL.YB happen to be worst,Atalanta won EL,BD beaten finalists,qualifying with a game in hand is a position many would take esp down citeh way.
3-it is just not true- It is B78,we cant alter rules of competition,the author is bending our achievements to his false narrative-Are you B78?
4-no canonisation of BR or Calum as 1st minister
-again no one is doing this b78,Are you? Perhaps b78 you had better take into account the amount of times we have qualified,how bout commending this achievement now as i am sure you may in future years.
5- Celtic punchbag-flotsam etc – Celtic did not then have in place the money and backroom team to go for the Arne Engels type signing. Have you b78 on why our record was so poor then??
6.-jobs not done’- the authors demeaning of Europes top tourney is laughable/hurting,do you agree with his view b78?
7.-for this campaign- getting beat vs Maribor i would put totally on our heirarchy and their refusal to not get to far away from the the liquidated parasite,i think that has changed tho remains to be seen.
8- not an attempt to be harsh- no b78 it is the hurtiest wee hunfilled,envy seeping,crayon scrolled drivel written by a hun for huns .
What is your breakdown of it
9-rodgers fulfills kpi’s- he knows nothing of CL monies and less of our kpi’s.Do you agree with this assertion b78?
10-3-1 win over RB leipzig- no seeding comparison b78,sat 2nd in bundesliga,hurting acceptance of our victory.is your acceptance grudging b78?
11-Atalanta- a total disrespect for The Europa League winners,a total disrespect of Celtic and our performance there,drizzled with hun poison remitting our last managers ‘gung ho’ approach.Do you agree b78?
12- Slovan Bratislava- again the hurtiest of disrespects,they qualified thro qualifiers,some did not :-)
13-Dortmund – omits fact they were last years Champions leagues beaten finalists,a total disrespect
14.Brugge- ‘outplayed’ in a draw,neglects Celtic maturing,not loosing like maybe the author wanted.
15Zagreb & Young boys evisceration
Cant be arsed disqualifying the rest of the article B78
Total nonsense B78 both our draws are ultimately what got us qualified.
If youB78 agree with any of the narratives set by the author i would suggest you have a problem with Celtic and how they are operating,
B78 as you say yourself, we know what keown(or any football reporter here including McGoon) is
The question for you is why are you seeking truth in it.it is as Darwin says a malicious misrepresentation of Celtic
Think of Othello,it reads as Iago sowing the seeds of doubt, envy and false praise on Othello with and about Cassios hanky,written by a hun keown playing the iago role in your head b78 not mine.His club died.
What is it you think is factually correct in it b78?
HH
Turkeybhoy on 28th January 2025 7:49 pm
Nothing to lose tomorrow,but we dont want a doing.We SHOULD play 4-4-2…
_____
I don’t think we’ll play 442 but he might opt for McCowan on the left rather than Yang, to provide better defensive cover. Would have loved to see Maeda there tomorrow. I actually think we’ll start with Yang. Very short of wide options on the bench. Of course we’d like to win or even draw, but it’s crazy that no points could even see us have an ‘easier’ draw in the next round.
Please sign,covering Scottish legislation
https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2135
HH
The Isaac video is just amazing.
Respect and thanks to whoever posted the link.
Tears to a glass eye stuff.
When one considers some of the inconsequential stuff we think of as problems?
That wee boy is a lesson and an example.
Truly humbling.
watch win diomande appeal – d’uh!
? wangers
Burnley78 @ 5.30
I always find it a shame if a Celtic supporter personalises a dislike of the current manager ( whoever he is ) more worrying is an obvious need to diss him, or his record of achievement frequently in public comment forums, like CQN.
Celtic supporters at least those over the age of 12 were able to get over the fact that once upon a time Brendan Rodgers left to go to a better league, if not immediately, certainly when he came back.
You’re just a supporter like the rest of us.
I counted the appeals last year – hibs were denied appeals more than any club!
Brendan Presser
https://youtu.be/TwJUOWzoM3Q?si=j9VXr4Voq4hh1TZ5
HH
chairbhoy, you said –
He took Brendan Rodgers, invincible, treble winning side and left Ange with a basket case of a squad.
—————-
but the fact remains, he took over a celtic side that had been beaten domestically in the league 4 times, and drawn anothewr 4 times.
so not brendans invincibles,
and a season later, would win 9 in a row with more points than brendans 2nd season.
i believe NFL is a better football manager than he gets credit for.
and very telling to me, when he was at cup final with broony and greeted the manger on the stairs there was a very mutual respect.
on reflection still, my low point as a supporter was those fans chasing the bus in the car park.
we just lost a league, so fecking what.
Be amazed if we get a result tomorrow. No Daizen, CCV or Kyogo. Jota ineligible means Yang who is going to be way out of his depth. They also have much more riding on the game, which generally counts for a lot. As well as being much richer and having a very good team.
Ironically this might be our most meaningless game of the season so far. Hopefully we can play with freedom.
Whatever happens we are in great shape and the next two games in this competition are the priority.
Another level of garbage from the bbc on line. Claiming rangers have WON their appeal and asking everyone to review it.
Not sure I have seen such one eyed reporting of any controversial Celtic incidents eg Yang sending off at tynecastle.
Re the discussions that we were lucky to get an ‘easy draw’ in this years Champs League…
Surely it’s true that most teams thought Xmas had come early when they saw our names in their group?
We were among the least likely to put a decent Euro run together, yet that’s precisely what we done.
For Euro underachievers – like us – any group’s a hard group when you’re a perceived soft touch.
Brendan’s bhoys have changed that narrative and I’m real happy about that.
Re the Villains, as B78 and Quadbhoy inferred, if we can approach it cagey like Atalanta and hope to nick a late win that’ll do for me Tommy.
BOBBYBALL CSC
The guy Auld didn’t do too badly in his second stint.
I will leave tonight,with an all time gem written today in Rangers News.The footballing answer to The Beano.
“Rangers will try and outshine Celtics return of Jota.Rumoured talks of the return of,wait for it,
RYAN KENT. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.
Banjos will be provided.
TB, surprised it wasn’t the poss return of Jordan ‘WATP’ Jones…
Fuds!!
https://x.com/michaelceltic18/status/1884346192156368947?s=48&t=VGQ-dz7XnGoK0iCf5HYDYA
The scum running amok in Manchester, nothing reported here
Ryan Kent ?
Please say it is true.
I will pick him up from the airport.
Where is he flying in from ?
Iceland ? Millport? Berwick upon Tweed? The Isle of Man ?
If KT’s a confirmed return on a pre-contract, catalysing Valle to Como, what does this do to Greg T’s mindset and contractual position ?
SWINGSANDROUNDABOUTS CSC