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Welcome back to Celtic, Jota Felipe; “Who says you can’t go home?”

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Today we’re welcoming home a former hero, hoping he can become a current hero and a future hero to fans who, perhaps, didn’t fully appreciate what they had the first time around. Not recognising what you had the first time—well, that’s certainly in the air right now, isn’t it?

First, I’m delighted we’re bringing Jota back to the club.

One of my biggest regrets over the past two years is that we never got to see him working with Brendan Rodgers. And with the emergence of Nicolas Kuhn on the right-hand side of the pitch, it’s tempting to wonder what a partnership between Jota and Kuhn could produce for us. As much as we all love Maeda and as much as we’ve enjoyed what he has brought to the team on that side, there’s always been a lingering question about what magic that pairing might have conjured.

When we started looking for a left-sided midfielder at the beginning of this window, I envisioned us bringing in a young, up-and-coming player. I was happy with that idea, and some of the names linked with us earlier in the window were exciting prospects. I’d have been perfectly content to see any of them join the squad.

There was always a whisper in the background about Jota, but I dismissed it. I assumed his wage demands would be sky-high, making any deal unrealistic—just as I thought the idea of bringing Kieran Tierney back was a non-starter when he’s earning a six-figure weekly salary down south.

If we manage to bring back both Jota and Tierney, it would suggest a fundamental shift in our wage policy—and that’s no bad thing. It points to a smarter approach: a smaller, tighter squad of higher-calibre players earning good money rather than 40 squad players on modest wages, many of whom aren’t getting games. It’s a better strategy, no matter what anyone else might claim.

Jota isn’t coming back on the cheap, but he won’t be earning Saudi-level wages either. That’s the thing: he’s made so much money over there that financial concerns are now secondary. In terms of what he set out to achieve by going to Saudi, it’s mission accomplished. He’s set up for life.

Now, he can focus on what he loves—playing in front of fans who adore him, winning trophies, and competing for honours. And in coming to Celtic you know what he’s saying? This is where I really belong.

There’s a bit of schadenfreude in this, isn’t there? We’re taking pleasure in how things have come full circle—not just with Jota but potentially with Tierney too. And that’s especially notable as we prepare to wave goodbye to our number one striker, who’s heading to France to seek new challenges.

One rather thinks he’s missing the point.

The grass always seems greener, doesn’t it? Agents whisper in your ear about the next big move, the money, and the opportunities. It all sounds so enticing. Jota probably thought he’d spend three or four years in Saudi, just as Tierney likely imagined Arsenal would be the stepping stone to even greater things.

Jon Bon Jovi once asked, “Who says you can’t go home?”

The chorus goes: “There’s only one place they call me one of their own …” And he later, almost wishfully asks, “Who says you can’t go back?”

Ask Brendan Rodgers how it feels to walk through those doors again. “There’s only one place left I wanna go …”

Does it matter how or why these players are back? Does it matter that their dreams didn’t quite pan out the way they hoped? You think these guys didn’t have other offers? You think they couldn’t have gone elsewhere, probably for more money? They chose to come back because they know what they left behind when they departed in the first place, and they want it back.

Jota is a special player, one of those rare talents who can unlock a defence. Once he’s up to speed, I can’t wait to see him in this team. If Rodgers integrates him into the system properly, Jota could become an even better player than before.

This deal proves something important: those who leave rarely find something so good as what they are leaving behind. For Jota and Tierney, leaving this club in search of something “bigger” has brought them to the same realisation almost every player who leaves us eventually has—there’s no place like home. This club is special, and you often don’t realise it until it’s gone. Most don’t get the chance to return.

For Jota and, hopefully, for Tierney, this is living the dream. It’s getting to go back to the place where they’re one of our own, having travelled the world and seen what’s out there. They know where they belong.

Welcome back Jota. This could be the second act of a beautiful friendship.

Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

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10 comments

  • KirkieBhoy73 says:

    Like everyone else, I am very excited to see Jota being in this team, he is a class player, and playing under BR can only make him better, I hope.

    I can’t wait for the buns to start with some shxt about money laundering or something lol, I really wouldn’t put it past them!

    bem vindo a casa Jota!

  • DannyGal says:

    I think Celtic have now altered the thinking that they only need to sign the players they need to win domestically. In addition the board have became accomplished in the sometimes criticised art of striking when the iron’s hot. You just need to look at Sevco apparently turning down several millions for Kent, Morelos and more recently Butland to find later they had lost any sell on value. If Celtic had insisted Kyogo stayed for the Villa game and still lost, and Rennes had moved to another target, leaving a disillusioned Kyogo at the club without a similar offer in the pipeline, I’m pretty sure the criticism would be at least doubled.
    IMO the board have found a way to strike a balance between pleasing all their fans and critics, and making the correct business decisions at the right time.

  • Mr Magoo says:

    Oooooohhhhhh, I hope they bring back elvis.

    Tell me , would any of you go to the wheeley bin and take your rubbish back to house.

    Maybe get a relationship going again with a horrible ex wife or girlfriend ??

    Nahhhhhh, cos it won’t be the sane second time around , would it ?

    According to reports Jota couldn’t get a game with Rennes cos he was gash .

    Billy big bollocks with no need to perform cos his pockets were full of oil money ..

    No need to try anymore , maybe we should sign tony watt as main striker

    • Johnny Green says:

      Mr Magoo, if you ever go back anywhere, it will certainly not be as a comedian. 🙂

      • Mr Magoo says:

        Ye can take me the same place twice Johnny

        The second time to apologise

        • micmac says:

          Time will tell, I’ve got a feeling you’re going to be wrong, Playing for Celtic, a team always on the front foot in Scotland, suits players with attacking flair and intent and these two definitely come into that category. Jota to some managers would look too much of a showboating players, at Celtic Park we’ve always loved our showboaters as long as there’s an end result. With Jota 1st time around there nearly always was an end result.

  • Kevcelt59 says:

    If they come back and dae well, fine. Tho question is, if Jota had done well and everything was working out for him and KT wasn’t injury prone and still very much part of Arsenal’s plans, would either be so ‘keen’ tae get back tae CP at this time ?Don’t think so. It’s circumstances that worked against them that have brought them back here at this time. If we benefit from it, then cannae complain. Right now and before this window shuts, we need another proven striker in and imo a mid stopper. That’s vital.

    • ivenogoatwan says:

      I agree with you kevcelt, where’s our replacement striker ,who we definitely need and we are surely needing a midfield enforcer to toughen us up for the games still to come,as regards Jota and Tierney I think they were great players but if they were that good why haven’t they been targeted by other clubs,I don’t think in all the years as a Celtic fan 60 years ,players coming back never seem to be the same ,I hope I’m wrong but returning players have never been great,and James said Jota is set for life , surely Tierney must be set for life as well,they shouldn’t be on massive wages if they loved the club that much ,they could probably play for nothing and still be set for life,I know they won’t play for nothing but surely they are multi millionaires,how much wages do they need.

  • Brattbakk says:

    As I’ve said before, I don’t like players coming back but if Tierney stays fit he’ll stay for the rest of his career, his performances haven’t dipped it’s just a massive if with fitness and if I’m honest, I probably wouldn’t have taken the risk. It sounds like Tierney has turned down other clubs because he’s desperate to come back.
    Jota is different, he was great for us, unlucky with the foreigner rule in Saudi then the manager who signed him for Rennes got sacked. So he needs to rebuild but he’s 25! He’s young enough and we know how good he can be, I’m delighted he’s back. That’ll do for ex players though, no Starfelt, no Edouard, no Juranovic.

  • Clachnacuddin and the Hoops says:

    Jury out on Jota at this time…

    But as The Scummy’s (Media) will no doubt find a negative I’ll look for a positive instead !

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