Jota's loan club 'named' as Celtic hero sees Al Ittihad promise fall on deaf ears

Jota left Celtic in the summer to start a new adventure in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad, surprising many with his decision to go.

But now, just a few short weeks on, the Portuguese could be getting moved around again after reports suggested the Middle Eastern champions were set to ship the former Parkhead winger out on loan. Jota has started brightly at an Ittihad side that has brought world beaters in Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kane to Jeddah, followed by former Liverpool star Fabinho. They are just a number of high-profile stars to make the switch to the lucrative league, with former Celtic stars Jack Hendry and Moussa Dembele incidentally joining former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq.

Yet Jota, despite being told by boss Nuno Espirito Santo that he needed time and that the club would act "fairly" in his development, it seems the Ittihad higherups have made the call to loan out the 24-year-old. The former Spurs boss, who has started the youngster in pre-season and their league openers, said last month: "Jota needs time, a player with talent and skill, a new team and a new place, of course, that needs time. As is the case with the rest of the newly joined players. I would be unfair and unfair if I evaluated the players now, I am a positive person."

Now, according to outlet Sport 360: "The management of Al-Ittihad Club decided to loan the Portuguese Jota to Al-Shabab [FC] this summer," with the report stating Ittihad officials have already made their decision on his future.

Jota signed a three-year deal in Saudi and banked Celtic a handsome £25million in the process, leaving after winning a Treble under previous boss Ange Postecoglou. He penned an emotional farewell to Hoops fans, but could join Moroccan