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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Aidan Smith

Ex-Celtic ace Jota given Al-Ittihad transfer exit update weeks after £25m move

Jota is on high alert after his Al-Ittihad boss Nuno Espirito Santo revealed that the club could be set to loan out a number of their foreign players.

The Portuguese winger landed a bumper move to Saudi this summer as he left Celtic for a fee of £25million.

Since then though it has not been plain sailing for Jota with reports in Saudi suggesting that he could instantly be loaned out due to Saudi Pro League rules.

The league states that there must only be eight players per squad from overseas, and as a result, Jota could be on the way out to facilitate more transfers.

Updating on the situation, Nuno Espirito Santo said: "Since the transfer window is still open, we need some players in specific positions.

“We will work on bringing in more deals, but this is an internal matter and we won’t disclose who will come and who will leave.

"The league regulations stipulate the presence of only eight foreigners, and we will try to reduce the number until the end of the period."

Speaking earlier this summer about the possibility of Jota going on loan, he added: "Jota needs time.

"A player with talent and skill, a new team and a new place, of course, that needs time. As is the case with the rest of the newly-joined players.

"I would be unfair and unfair if I evaluated the players now. I am a positive person."

After leaving Celtic Jota penned an emotional message to fans after helping to land a historic treble under the leadership of Ange Postecoglou.

He said: "No words will ever express how grateful I am for this ride. Let me tell you something...what a f***ing ride.

"I was scared, I had doubts and I didn't know what to expect from something that in the end turned out to be one of the most beautiful stories ever.

"People often ask me what is so special about Celtic and I think there's no straight answer, there's no fair answer for that.

"The answer lies in such a deep feeling, a sense, an emotion.

"There is this mystical fog flowing around Celtic Park that induces you to this sense of football edge.

"This football heritage gave us unforgettable moments. And you can't just explain it, you need to feel it, you need to respect it.

"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.

"To the players, to the staff and for all of the involved departments, a big thank you from me. You guys made me better.

"To the fans, and I always say this, 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 matters, I think I have loved you more than them so believe me, I'll love you for life.

"I have recently learned that happiness is not found at the finishing line, it lies in the path. It definitely lies in the path.

"I'm grateful for every raindrop in Glasgow, every trip to the Highlands and wow, those were long, every bit of Glaswegian banter and so it goes on, so many stories, so many things to remember.

"Celtic will always definitely have a special place in my heart and one day my biggest dream will be just to sit down with my kids and tell them about how magical and special this place is because life is all about stories and this one was just unbelievable.

"Today, I become another fan, the ones that live and make the club. Forever yours."

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