Al-Ittihad contacted Celtic about potential Jota return; club shut the door

Al-Ittihad contacted Celtic about potential Jota return; club shut the door

Al-Ittihad’s approach to Celtic regarding the potential return of winger Jota to Parkhead seems to have hit a financial roadblock

The Saudi Pro League club’s proposed terms for a January loan deal, which includes a mandatory purchase clause for next summer, have reportedly been deemed too costly by the Scottish Premiership side.

Jota, who left Celtic last summer for a lucrative £25 million transfer to Al-Ittihad, has experienced a challenging time in the Middle East. Initially sidelined from the Saudi Pro League squad, he saw limited action, mainly in the AFC Champions League and Club World Cup. Despite a brief resurgence under new manager Marcelo Gallardo, following Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure, Jota’s future with Al-Ittihad remains uncertain.

Saudi news outlet HiHi reports that Jota is among six players Al-Ittihad is looking to offload to European clubs this January.

Celtic, approached as a potential destination for Jota, has baulked at the financial demands of the deal. [WinWin via RecordSport]

The “exorbitant” fees involved have led Celtic to close the door on this opportunity, despite the player’s previous success at the club.

Celtic could really do with Jota in their side at the moment, but the reality is that his return was never likely to happen.