Jota sees cutting Rennes boss hit him with a gut punch as Celtic hero dismissed in brutal interview

He may have thought his nightmare was fading after leaving Al-Ittihad - but Jota is facing another massive career turning point at Stade Rennes.

The 25-year-old endured a nightmare spell in the Saudi Pro League after leaving Celtic in the summer of 2023 for a mega money £25million fee - but quickly drifted out of the picture in Ittihad and eyed a return to Europe from the Middle East. The Portuguese winger made the move to the Ligue 1 side and was enjoying a career resurgence under Julian Stephen despite difficult early season results for Rennes.

But after Stephen was shown the door the club appointed earlier this month Jorge Sampaoli with the forward immediately being dropped from the starting line-up by the boss. He made a 10-minute cameo off the bench in the first game in the Argentine bosses tenure before being handed another late run-out in the 5-0 rout of Saint-Etienne.

Following the full-time whistle, Sampaoli was put on the spot on his decision to leave the £6.7m summer recruit on the fringes. He responded: "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."

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