He may have thought his troubles were behind him after exiting Al-Ittihad, but Jota now faces yet another career crossroads at Stade Rennes.
The 25-year-old winger’s stint in the Saudi Pro League turned sour after his £25 million move from Celtic in the summer of 2023. Once hailed as a marquee signing, Jota swiftly found himself sidelined in the Ittihad setup and sought a swift return to European football.
That opportunity came with Rennes in Ligue 1, where the Portuguese player initially appeared to revive his form under then-manager Julien Stéphan. Despite Rennes’ early struggles in the league, Jota was showing glimpses of the flair that had made him a fan favourite at Celtic.
However, Stéphan’s dismissal earlier this month brought Jorge Sampaoli into the dugout, and with the new manager came fresh challenges for Jota.
The winger was immediately dropped from the starting XI, reduced to a 10-minute substitute appearance in Sampaoli’s first game in charge. He followed that with another late cameo in the 5-0 thrashing of Saint-Étienne.
After the rout, Sampaoli was quizzed about his decision to limit Jota’s role. The Argentine coach gave a frank response:
“Why was Jota on the bench at the start of the match? For me he’s mainly a winger, not an interior player who can help balance the team.”
It’s a stark turn of events for a player who only recently spoke with fondness about his time at Celtic. Reflecting on his spell in Glasgow, Jota said:
“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.”
With Sampaoli’s preferences clear, Jota’s future at Rennes hangs in the balance. Another move might soon be on the horizon for the Portuguese winger.
