Jota to Celtic sends Brendan Rodgers into raptures as boss finally sees his ambition realised

Emotional Celtic fans logged onto flight trackers to watch one Parkhead hero depart Paradise on Thursday. But it’s the impending arrival in Glasgow of a past Hoops wing commander that has got Brendan Rodgers’ engines whirring.

The prospect of Jota jetting in from Rennes and passing Kyogo heading in the opposite direction is as soft as landing as the Hoops boss could have hoped for in a whirlwind 48 hours since clinching Champions League progression.

Rodgers wasn’t hiding from the fact he too was sad to see his Japanese talisman bring an end to a high flying three-and-a-half years with Celtic. But he couldn’t hide his excitement at finally getting a chance to work with the Portuguese ace whose £25m Celtic Park exit in the summer of 2023 arrived just before Rodgers’ return was confirmed.

Jota’s deal should be confirmed in the next 24 hours along with that of Kyogo. And while many say you should never go back in football, Rodgers knows better than anyone that’s not always the case. Asked if he expects Jota to have the same impact as he did in two years at Parkhead, Rodgers said: “Yes, I'm very confident.

“He was one player that when I was coming back, I was really looking forward to working with. I’d seen him play for Celtic, of course, and seen the impact that he made in terms of creating goals, scoring goals. That connects him with the supporters. I was really looking forward to working with him.

“The virtually before I'd arrived, it was very clear that he was gone. That was disappointing. I'd spoken to him at length. The challenge always is, and I know through first-hand experience, is that when you've created a legacy, lots of people will tell you not to come back. Maybe for that to be tainted in any way.

“My feeling