GiveMeSport
·21 September 2021
GiveMeSport
·21 September 2021
Celtic loan arrival Jota will "light up the Scottish game" having already caught the eye of Real Madrid during the early stages of his career, according to journalist Stuart Hodge.
The summer transfer window offered Ange Postecoglou, fresh from taking the managerial reins in June, the opportunity to bolster his squad.
He welcomed a host of fresh faces to Parkhead in the summer as Celtic bid to bounce back from seeing arch-rivals Rangers end their chances of clinching the Scottish Premiership title for a 10th consecutive year last season.
Jota sealed a season-long loan switch from Benfica in the dying moments of the transfer window, with the deal including the option to buy the winger for close to £6million.
It comes just two years after the Portugal under-21 international was on Real Madrid's radar, according to Spanish media outlet AS. The report suggests the Santiago Bernabeu side saw Jota as a long-term successor to Cristiano Ronaldo and were left frustrated after a bid worth €18million was turned down.
Despite being just 22, Jota has already made 34 senior appearances for Benfica and also caught the eye during a frutiful loan spell with La Liga side Real Valladolid, which garnered two goals in 18 outings last season.
Hodge believes Jota, who has scored five goals in 17 appearances for the Portugal under-21s, could prove to be a shrewd signing for Celtic.
The journalist has tipped the winger to shine in Glasgow, with his links to Real Madrid demonstrating he has plenty of talent.
Hodge told GMS: "Jota, specifically, is a talent who only two or three years ago Real Madrid had their eye on.
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"You're talking about a player that's clearly got a lot of ability and I think, technically, will light up the Scottish game.
"But he does seem to have the physicality to handle himself and make sure that he can play within that as well."
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