Jota and the Nuno 'promise' behind Celtic transfer exit as star tracked by Al-Ittihad boss for more than a YEAR

Nuno Espirito Santo has reportedly been keen to land Jota for more than a year and has been the driving force behind the deal to take him to Saudi Arabia.

Al-Ittihad rocked Celtic chiefs when they made their move for Jota on Thursday and the Portuguese star is keen on a life-changing move to the Middle East. Record Sport understands the Hoops will bank close to £25m and while Parkhead higher-ups are reluctant to sell one of their key men this early in Brendan Rodgers' second tenure, the fee on the table may be too good to turn down.

It comes just a year after Celtic triggered a £6.5m option to buy which was announced on July 1, just days before former Wolves and Spurs boss was unveiled as Al-Ittihad's new manager. And the Scottish Sun say Nuno has been determined to land Jota ever since, telling the club's hierarchy he is just as important as household names Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante.

It's claimed Santo made a personal pitch to his countryman Jota and vowed to make him a superstar in Saudi Arabia. And that impassioned plea, coupled by an eyewatering salary package which Saudi sources indicate could see Jota take home £192,000 per week untaxed, appears to have done the deal.

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