Kyogo Furuhashi’s departure from Celtic in January came as a significant surprise and a considerable setback for the club. However, the mood around Celtic Park quickly lifted thanks to the return of Jota, which added a welcome boost to the squad.
For many years, Celtic have earned widespread admiration for their savvy and effective business in the transfer market. The club has often been praised for their ability to make smart, calculated decisions that strengthen the team. However, the recent developments surrounding Jota have proven to be an exceptional case, showcasing the club’s cleverness in the transfer market. His return to Glasgow has been nothing short of a masterstroke.
It’s hard to forget that just 18 months ago, Jota was poised to make a high-profile and lucrative £25 million move to Saudi Arabia, a deal that Celtic could not afford to turn down due to the financial windfall it represented. However, Jota’s time in the Saudi Pro League didn’t go as planned. The 25-year-old struggled to find his rhythm in the Middle East, and after further challenges in France’s Ligue 1 with Rennes, Celtic saw an opportunity to bring him back. Seizing the moment, they managed to secure his return for a fraction of the price, paying just £8 million in the winter transfer window.
Since his return, manager Brendan Rodgers has been cautious in how he reintegrates Jota into the squad. Given the player’s lack of match fitness following a prolonged absence from top-level football, Rodgers has been prudent in managing his minutes and ensuring that Jota does not rush back into the action too quickly. This measured approach has garnered praise from pundits and fans alike.
One such supporter of Rodgers’ careful handling of Jota is former Hibernian player Tam McManus. McManus has praised Rodgers for his smart decision to keep Jota on the bench during the recent 5-1 victory over Aberdeen, despite the winger scoring in that game. McManus explained that had Jota been rushed back into action too early, he might have been judged harshly by fans, with some possibly labeling him as a “shadow of his former self.” By giving Jota the time and space to regain his fitness and sharpness, Rodgers has protected the player from such premature criticism.
According to McManus, Jota’s lack of a full pre-season and limited playing time would have made it difficult for him to perform at his best if thrust straight into the starting lineup. He emphasized that at a club like Celtic, expectations are sky-high, and fans would have been quick to make snap judgments about the player’s form. Instead, Rodgers’ decision to ease Jota back into the fold has allowed the player the time he needs to get back to full fitness without facing undue pressure. McManus believes that once Jota is fully match fit, he will be a key figure for Celtic, and Rodgers will be able to integrate him more consistently into the starting lineup.
Jota’s recent performances and minutes since his return suggest that the club is being very deliberate in his reintegration. He has yet to complete a full 90 minutes, and it seems likely that Rodgers will continue to be cautious with his usage, even as the team prepares for the upcoming Scottish Cup match against David Gray’s Hibernian side. After Celtic’s recent defeat to Hibernian in the league, it would not be surprising to see Jota feature more prominently in this high-stakes cup tie.
This upcoming match may present the perfect opportunity for Jota to play his first full 90 minutes since returning, as the team will be looking to bounce back from their recent loss. However, Rodgers faces some tricky decisions in terms of team selection. Jota’s return has created more competition in the attacking positions, and with the likes of Hyunjun Yang having made a significant impact as a substitute in recent games, the forward line is far from settled. Yang’s excellent performance against St Mirren showed that he is ready for a larger role, and he will likely be pushing for more minutes.
Fans, of course, will be eager to see Jota back in the starting XI, especially for such an important match. However, with other attacking players like Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn also competing for spots, it will be interesting to see how Rodgers balances his squad for the upcoming challenges. As Celtic chase silverware this season, the manager’s ability to rotate the squad effectively will be crucial, and getting Jota back to peak form will be an important piece of that puzzle.
