FILIPE JOTA appears to be back in favour with Rennes head coach Jorge Sampaoli.
The former Celtic fans’ favourite was a stand-out substitute when he came on against Bordeaux in the Ligue 1 encounter on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Portuguese winger, who quit the Hoops in a £25million switch to megarich Saudia Arabian club Al-Ittihad in July 2023, returned to Europe this summer with the French outfit, but has struggled to convince Sampaoli.
However, he took his chance when he came on at Bordeaux on the hour mark. His team had recovered from the loss of an early goal to go 2-1 ahead when he was introduced to the action.
CHEERS AND CHEERIO…Filipe Jota holds the Scottish Cup after his last Celtic appearance, the 3-1 silverware victory over Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden in May 2023.
The flamboyant forward, who cost Celtic £6.5million from Benfica in July 2022 after his impressive one-season loan deal, hit the ground running and helped his club to three valuable points as he set up the fourth goal for Arnaud Kalimeundo in a surprise 4-1 win.
Despite tales circulating he could be sold to fund moves in next month’s transfer window for Sampaoli, Jota has featured in the majority of his club’s league fixtures, making nine appearances and accumulating 331 minutes of playing time.
He has been selected in the starting eleven on three occasions across the 15 fixtures.
Jota’s only goal so far came in a 1-1 draw against Brest on October 19.
The Portuguese crowdpleaser is hoping to get the nod to start in Rennes’ next Ligue 1 game at Nice a week on Friday.
Celtic fans wishing for a sensational return for a much-loved Hoops star may be out of luck.
