It has been almost a year-and-a-half since Jota left Celtic to join Al-Ittihad for a then Scottish record transfer fee. A lot has happened over that period of time. For the Portuguese winger, it has been a tough phase for sure. Things just did not work out for him there and he ended up moving this summer again, this time to join Rennes in France.
It has not been the brightest of starts for Jota in France. He has faced fitness issues immediately after arriving and has only made a couple of substitute appearances so far.
It remains to be seen if Jota can bring his career back on track with Rennes. It is certainly a good place to do that. One also has to wonder whether he regrets having left Celtic.
It is quite clear that he misses the love that he got from the Celtic fans. He was the club's 'superstar from Portugal' after all. And most would have welcomed him back with open arms, if he did make the move back to Glasgow this summer.
'Show my children' - Jota makes emotional claim about Celtic
The time at Celtic clearly had a deep effect on Jota and he formed a bond with the fans that you would not expect from someone who spent just a couple of seasons in Glasgow. As reported by the Daily Record, the Portuguese winger said while speaking to Ouest France:
"You had to be in Glasgow at that moment to feel it. Playing at Celtic Park, feeling the love of the fans, having the chance to be coached by an incredible coach (Ange Postecoglou) in a group where everything turned out well.
"You have to thank everyone. I hope one day to be able to show my children what it was like, all the love I received. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. It touched me because I didn’t expect it. When they started singing it, it was a very special moment."
Jota was clearly one of Celtic's most important players during the Ange Postecoglou era at the club. Things might not have worked out for him after leaving but there is no question about his ability, in the right environment.
The feelings he has for the club mean that the door is always open for a return. Let's see how his time in France goes with Rennes.