Celtic: Jota eyeing Saudi exit after disaster move from Parkhead

By Alan Hutton

24th Nov, 2023 | 6:59pm

Jota eyeing January transfer after 'disastrous' Celtic move - expert

Former Celtic star Jota will be eyeing up an exit this January after his disastrous move to Al-Ittihad.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Rangers and Scotland defender Alan Hutton admitted his huge wages are a benefit but reiterated that the 24-year-old needs regular game time.

Jota was cut from Al-Ittihad’s squad after playing the first five games in the Saudi Pro League and has been linked with a loan move back to Celtic and has reportedly been monitored by former Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.

He has been included in his side’s Club World Cup squad by their new manager Marcelo Gallardo but his move has been considered a failure thus far.

Hutton agreed that his summer move is “not adding up” to a success.

“He might be regretting his disastrous move from Celtic,” he told Football Insider.

“Obviously it’s not quite worked out for him in terms of playing time, but obviously financially with the wage structure he’s on, contracts and stuff like that -, that’s the good side to it.

“At the end of the day though, he’s young he needs to be playing week-in week-out. It’s not happening for him in Saudi.

“It’s not adding up to be a good transfer, especially as he was so highly regarded at Celtic and what he brought to that team.

“He was their main guy. Is he going to look to get out permanently or on loan this January? Of course, he will!

“He’s young and he wants to play games, but financially he will be very secure.”

In other news, Pundit drops verdict on Celtic omitting big names for Motherwell clash.