Paying £25m for a sensational footballer is only really sensible if you then go onto play the player in question. Otherwise people will start to think that you’ve got more money than sense. Maybe the powers that be at mega-rich Saudi side Al-Ittihad will be a little embarrassed, or perhaps somewhat surprised but certainly delighted to see their investment from last June starting to pay dividends.
Former Celtic hero Jota
The former Celtic hero Jota is now getting some game-time at Al-Ittihad and is showing his new club plenty of signs that they should be playing him on a regular basis. There was talk of a loan move to West Ham in the January transfer window. That fell through due to tax considerations at Jota’s end. He is apparently on £180k a week tax free in Saudi Arabia. That is life-changing money for him and his family.
Superstar from Portugal status
However going from the glamour, prestige and superstar from Portugal status at Celtic – were even popstars were signing songs about him – to a footballing wilderness in the Gulf state, must be hard to take from a footballing if not financial point of view.
🎶 Jota, Jota on the wing! 🎶
A special thanks to @elliedixonmusic who joined @liam_mcgrandles at Celtic Park on Saturday for a brilliant pre-match performance 🤩
Thanks for giving her a warm Paradise welcome, Celts! 💚🙌#CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/pEEfm5btQw
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) April 11, 2023
But money talks in football and Jota has had to bide his time. If given a chance he can be Al-Ittihad’s Superstar from Portugal too.
Watch his little bit of Jota magic…
Jota Magic. 🪄🎩pic.twitter.com/oWhFnKt6tU
— Futeb⚽l T⚽tal (@Futeb0lT0tal) March 17, 2024
