Paulo Bernardo hoping for permanent Celtic transfer already as he hints he'll echo Jota with signature celebration soon

Paulo Bernardo reckons he doesn’t just have big boots to fill at Celtic when it comes to his old Benfica buddy Jota.

The midfielder also has some shirts to shift. Bernardo watched his former teammate become a major star in Scotland with his performances on the pitch and his style off it. The 21-year-old turned in from Portugal to see Jota’s goals while he clocked the former Hoops man’s social media pics in old Celtic kits and even noticed he mate’s trademark goal celebration ended up being printed on t-shirts.

Bernardo knows he has a way to go to emulate his friend – who is now making mega money while sitting on the sidelines in Saudi Arabia – but he’d love to make a similar impression. The borrowed Benfica ace has broken into the team in recent weeks after Reo Hatate’s injury. And he’s hoping this is just the start of him claiming a starting jersey each week.

Bernardo said: “When I was at Benfica and he was here, I used to check on my phone to see how he was doing. I kept seeing, ‘Jota scores again!’ I’d look at the goals and it was great to see him doing so well.

“I know he was a really good player here and I want to show that I can be I am too. I know he had a famous celebration that ended up being printed on t-shirts. I don’t have a certain celebration yet – but maybe I will!”

“We are friends. We talked a little bit before and after I came here. He told me a lot of things that made me a little bit more comfortable here. It was really nice from him to speak with me.

“He told me Celtic was a big club like our club Benfica. He also told me the biggest difference is the weather here! But I am really enjoying Glasgow, like he told me I would. I feel good here. I know he liked to wear old Celtic strips but he didn’t leave