‘Celtic Jackpot’:£17m value ‘idol player hits jackpot for the Hoops….

Celtic have had a history of successful transfers, profiting from the sales of players like Virgil van Dijk, Fraser Forster, Odsonne Edouard, and Victor Wanyama. They have a knack for nurturing young talent, such as Matt O’Riley and Luis Palma under Brendan Rodgers, with hopes of future lucrative deals.

One standout example of their success was Portuguese winger Jota, whom they sold to Al Ittihad last summer for a reported £25m, matching the record set by Kieran Tierney’s transfer to Arsenal. This move came just a year after Celtic acquired Jota from Benfica for £6.5m following a successful loan spell.

Jota’s time at Al Ittihad, however, has been less fruitful. Despite being hailed as an “idol” during his time at Parkhead, he struggled to secure a spot in Al Ittihad’s squad due to restrictions on foreign players. Consequently, his market value has dropped significantly from £25m to just £7.7m according to Transfermarkt.

This drastic decrease underscores Celtic’s shrewdness in timing the sale, as Al Ittihad would likely struggle to recoup their initial investment if they were to sell him now. Nevertheless, Jota’s inclusion in Al Ittihad’s upcoming matches under new manager Marcelo Gallardo offers hope for a resurgence in form and potential future opportunities in Europe or continued success in Saudi Arabia.