Jota sends emotional Celtic transfer exit message as departing winger declares 'what a f****** ride'

Jota has paid a tribute to Celtic after ending his two-year spell in Glasgow to join Al-Ittihad.

The winger was a popular figure in Ange Postecoglou's attacking system but his exit was sealed when the big-spending Saudi Arabian side came calling with a £25m deal for the Premiership champions and life-changing wages for Jota. In an emotional address to his previous club and fans through the middle-east side's club channels, the 24-year-old has reflected on a turbulent ride at Parkhead full of highs and silverware.

He said: "No words will ever express how grateful I am for this ride. And let me tell you something, what a f****** ride. I've stepped in to Paradise as a young lad with dreams to fulfil and a single goal, to find happiness doing what I love most.

"I was scared, I had doubts, and I didn't know what to expect from something that in the end turned out to be one of the most beautiful stories ever. People often ask me, what's so special about Celtic? I feel like there's no straight answer. There's no fair answer for that. The answer lies in such a deep feeling, a sense, an emotion.

"There's a mystical fog flowing around Celtic Park that induces you to this sense of football edge. This football heritage gave us unforgettable moments. You can't just explain it, you need to feel it, to respect it. I'm such a lucky man to have lived two years of full excitement and getting to evolve as a football player and a person.

"To the players, to the staff, and for all of the involved departments, a big thank you for me. You guys make me better. And to the fans, and I always say this, you guys found a way of loving me more than my previous girlfriends. And I guarantee you that we were crazy in love. For what it matters, I have