Jota Has The Chance To Write One Of Celtic’s Great Modern Love Stories – And His Best Years Are Still Ahead Of Him

There is a romantic side to football that no amount of money, statistics or transfer-market analysis will ever replace.

Sometimes a player and a football club are simply made for one another.

And the more I listen to Jota, the more convinced I become that Celtic and the Portuguese winger have a story together that is nowhere near finished.

In fact, I think the best chapters might still be waiting to be written.

Quite, simply it is a match made in heaven.

I was laughed at recently when I suggested, somewhat jovially, that I was pinning my hopes on Jota returning to rescue Celtic.

I understood the reaction. We’ve got problems throughout this team, and expecting one player to suddenly fix everything would be ridiculous.

But there was a serious point behind what I was saying.

Jota is operating at a level that Celtic simply haven’t been recruiting enough of lately.

I’m not talking about a decent winger who can occasionally beat his man. I’m talking about a genuinely outstanding footballer, someone with that rare ability to make something happen when absolutely nothing appears to be on.

Give me five or six players of Jota’s quality throughout this Celtic squad and I’d be a very happy man indeed.

That’s the standard I’m talking about.

A Road Back That Deserves Enormous Respect

Before we get carried away with what comes next, we cannot underestimate what this boy has already been through.

Eighteen months away from the game you love is an eternity for any footballer, particularly one whose entire game is built around movement, confidence, instinct and the ability to express himself.

Listening to Jota discuss his rehabilitation, you could hear just how deeply those months affected him.

One particular answer stood out.

“I’ve met some demons and I’ve had some good talks with them.”

What an extraordinary thing for a footballer to say.

My favourite quote of the whole presser, and so relatable – for all of us in life.

He spoke about moments when he couldn’t see any light, about the importance of his family and about having to rediscover his perspective on life.

Yet there was no bitterness. No feeling sorry for himself. No suggestion that football owed him anything.

Instead, Jota explained that he doesn’t consider those months wasted.

“I didn’t lose, I actually gained.”

That tells you an enormous amount about the character of the man.

And it’s impossible not to like him, isn’t it?

There’s a humility about Jota that has always been there. He has this wonderful ability to connect with Celtic supporters without ever appearing to manufacture it.

He’s a brilliant footballer, but he’s also just an incredibly likeable human being.

That matters to me, dunno why.

Celtic Could Be Getting Jota At Exactly The Right Time

Here’s the part that really excites me.

Jota is still young enough to have his peak years ahead of him.

He’s already experienced the big move away from Celtic. He’s discovered that the grass isn’t necessarily greener elsewhere, and he’s now returned to a club where he is genuinely adored.

I can’t help wondering whether his entire outlook on his career has changed.

Perhaps the next big transfer isn’t what drives him anymore.

Perhaps he’s discovered that being happy, being appreciated and playing his best football are worth more than chasing another move.

Now, I’m not pretending Jota has announced that he’ll spend the rest of his career at Celtic.

That’s my hope, not something he’s promised.

But imagine if that’s how this story develops.

Imagine Celtic getting the very best years of a footballer who has already shown us how special he can be.

Not somebody passing through on the way to somewhere else.

He’s tried all that before.

Not another player we’re desperately trying to enjoy before the inevitable transfer speculation begins.

A genuinely top-class footballer making Celtic the place where he wants to build his legacy.

I absolutely love that possibility.

The Ability Is Still There For Everyone To See

There’s a clip doing the rounds of Jota leaving a Hearts player sliding past him, and I’ve watched it more times than I care to admit.

It’s hilarious.

But underneath the comedy is a reminder of what makes this boy so special.

That little bit of intelligence.

The balance, the awareness and the confidence to make an opponent look completely foolish without appearing to break sweat.

It’s natural ability that you simply cannot coach into every player.

Of course, the real test will be his output over the coming weeks and months.

Goals, assists, chances created and performances that influence football matches. That’s ultimately what Celtic need from him.

Nobody should expect him to produce his very best immediately after such a lengthy absence.

His minutes will need managed, and Martin O’Neill will understand that better than most.

But I suspect Martin will absolutely love working with Jota.

He’s got the personality, the football intelligence and the quality to become a hugely important figure in this Celtic side.

And as his fitness returns, I think supporters will increasingly realise just how far above much of our recent recruitment his ability actually sits.

Let Jota Write The Next Chapter

Football can be a cynical business.

We’re constantly discussing transfer fees, wage bills, recruitment failures and players who see clubs as stepping stones.

Then occasionally someone comes along who reminds you why you fell in love with the game in the first place.

That’s what Jota does for me.

He’s already given Celtic supporters some wonderful memories. He’s left the club, experienced life elsewhere, returned home and endured a horrendous period that would have tested anybody.

Now he’s back on the pitch, smiling again, and talking about simply enjoying every moment of football.

There’s something quite beautiful about that.

Maybe I’m getting carried away with the prospect of what Jota could become for Celtic over the next few years.

But I’ll tell you something.

I’d rather believe in the possibility of a wonderful football story than spend every waking moment worrying about when our best players might leave.

Celtic have a footballer here who could become absolutely central to what this club achieves in the years ahead.

A player with his peak years still to come, a genuine connection with the supporters and perhaps a completely different appreciation of what wearing that Celtic shirt means.

The rocky road back has already given us the beginning of an extraordinary story.

And for once, Celtic might not have to watch its most exciting chapters being written somewhere else.

Jota has the typewriter in his hands now.

I can’t wait to see what he writes.