Jota’s adventure in Saudi Arabia took quite the turn since his big move to Al-Ittihad last summer, with a hefty £25 million transfer fee tying him as the club’s joint record signing.
But what looked like a dream quickly hit a snag when he found himself left out of the squad for the Saudi Pro League matches. The decision, made by then-manager Nuno Espirito Santo, was due to the league’s limit on foreign players, which is set at eight. With high-profile signings like Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Fabinho, and Luiz Felipe, along with existing overseas stars, there simply wasn’t room for Jota in the league lineup.
After only six appearances, Jota was relegated to playing in the Asian Champions League matches, effectively putting his involvement in domestic competitions on ice.
However, the winds of change began to blow with Marcelo Gallardo’s arrival as manager in November. Gallardo saw value in reintegrating Jota, and by January, the winger was back on the overseas squad list. Despite a muscle injury delaying his return, Jota finally hit the pitch again in a match against Al-Akhdoud. He then posted on Instagram to celebrate his return, which was quickly hijacked by lots of Celtic fans telling him to get back to Parkhead!
Gallardo expressed optimism about Jota’s return, emphasising the importance of getting him back into match fitness after his long absence. Jota’s contribution to the last 32 minutes of the game helped secure a 2-1 victory, showcasing his potential impact moving forward.
Currently, Al-Ittihad, sits fourth in the league, trailing behind leaders Al-Hilal, flanked by Neymar who boast a significant lead, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr sit second in the table.
