Jota's iconic Celtic song found Paulo Bernardo BEFORE he joined Hoops and now he's ready to turn up the volume

Paulo Bernardo was humming along to the Celtic Jota tune even before he followed the Portuguese favourite to Parkhead. And the midfielder is convinced the returning Hoops ace will be even more on song in his second spell.

Bernardo was delighted to see his old Benfica pal sign up for another stint with Celts after 18 months away. The pair grew up together in Portugal and Jota helped give the playmaker the big sell when the Scottish champs came calling two summers ago. But they never got the chance to hit the high notes together with the wide man hitting the road for Saudi Arabia and then France.

The bold move to bring him back has paid off for Brendan Rodgers though and Bernardo reckons hearing the fans chant the old Jota song will be music to everyone’s ears at Parkhead. He said: “I heard the song before – even when I was still in Portugal! I think it’s a nice song. Jota did very well the last two years when he was here. The fans love him and I think he loves the fans too.

“He’s really happy. I talked to him and he’s really excited to be part of the club again and to be here with us. He just wants to play football again. It’s nice to be with him again. We played together in Benfica for one pre-season.

“I think I knew him as a kid. He was always at Benfica, like me. We were together for just one pre-season because he’s three years older than me and I was in a few teams below him.

“His game was always to dribble and to go forward to the players and score goals and make assists. I think he’s a really complete player and I think he will definitely help the group right now. He was unbelievable at Benfica and he was unbelievable at Celtic. I hope he does better here now.”

Jota won’t be on board for tonight’s Champions League