A welcome sight for Celtic supporters as Jota rejoins squad

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The Celtic Star

·11 de julio de 2025

A welcome sight for Celtic supporters as Jota rejoins squad

It was a welcome sight for Celtic supporters this week as Jota rejoined the squad during their pre-season camp in Lisbon…

Jota at Celtic’s training camp in Portugal

Though the Portuguese winger remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury, his decision to link up with the team shows exactly what kind of character he is – present, committed, and very much part of the Celtic squad and culture.

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Speaking exclusively to Celtic TV, Jota opened up on his recovery journey – and his words will inspire a wee bit hope that his return to action may not be too far away.

“I’m feeling really well and trusting the process,” he told the club’s own channel. “It’s a long one but I am happy with developments and I think I am on the right track to be fit, in good shape and playing football again.

“It’s always unlucky to get injured. But, seeing the timelines, this actually gives me a bit more time to recover. It’s just about doing the right things every day so that I can come back well from the injury.

“From my perspective I think there’s always something worse that could have happened to you. And if this happened, there’s a reason for that.

“There’s no point in me going down mentally. I have been through worse in different stages of my life, worse situations. So this, compared to other things, it will be nothing. I’m just curious and open-minded about all of the process.”

🫶 A welcome visitor in Lisbon Jota, recovering from injury, dropped by to see the lads during training 💚 #SummerOfCeltic🇵🇹 | #CelticFC🍀
– jueves, 10 de julio de 2025

True to form, Jota’s presence in Portugal isn’t just about his own progress. It’s about being there for his teammates, sharing the energy, and showing leadership even while not in action. That in itself speaks volumes.

But the winger also had deeper emotions on his mind, as he paid tribute to his former Portugal U21 teammate, Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away last week. His words – again shared with Celtic TV – were raw and heartfelt.

“I struggle to find words about everything that happened, and I think everyone in the world of football felt the same thing that day.

“It’s such a strange feeling, so unfair to someone who still had all of his life in front of him. It’s really sad. No one can imagine the pain and suffering of the family, but these are the moments that people should unite, be with them and be all together.

“I knew him. I played with him in the Portugal Under-21s, and he already seemed like a very mature guy, with a lot of success in football.

“Everyone could look up to him like a father figure, and this happening just doesn’t make any sense. We really need to be strong and together on this, because his memory will live on. The things he did in football were amazing. We need to cherish his life, and he built up an amazing family as well.

“Us down here, we’ll still keep up doing our thing, fighting and remembering him for all of the things that he has done.”

Jota. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Jota always seems to show a real maturity. Injury might have halted his on-pitch momentum, after rejoining the club, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, he comes across as never being stronger.

Niall J

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