The Jota Celtic-Ittihad transfer saga is being investigated, as the Saudi Pro League chief expresses concern about the ‘consequences’ of the trade

After a mega-money cross the Portuguese star was once quickly bombed out of the squad – sparking some serious questions for Ittihad.

The performing CEO of the Saudi Pro League has printed he contacted Al-Ittihad to categorical subject after Jota was dropped from their squad.

Former Celtic star Jota has spent the season frozen out of the photograph in Jeddah after leaving the Scottish Premiership champions closing summer – after he was no longer chosen as one of the eight overseas gamers allowed for each Pro League squad. That has relegated the 25-year-old to appearances in the AFC Champions League and pleasant clashes with talk of a return to European football in January swirling

And vice-chairman of the Pro League board of directors and appearing CEO Saad Al-Ladhiz has revealed he probed the membership over their decision – after Ittihad did not pay a penny of the £25million the Hoops received via the recruitment programme in place for the league. The assignment noticed each and every membership in the division given a giant pot of cash with which to appeal to top brain to the area – inclusive of the Portuguese star.

Speaking to Kora Al-Ladhiz stated “Jota is among the programme’s deals, and he was at the request of Al-Ittihad and there was once no competition for him from other Pro League sides and only Al-Ittihad requested him to be contracted. Not all deals can be successful quickly, and I accept as true with that this participant will succeed.

“But we spoke with the club after he was removed from their list, due to the fact we do no longer desire there to be financial or felony penalties for the club. At the equal time there has to be technical independence for the clubs. So, you can’t go to a train and say that we have reduced in size a player inside the recruitment application and therefore he should play.”

He also cited that Jota has not contact the league or representatives of the recruitment software after he was once cut from the list. Al-Lathez continued: “The player did not communicate with the recruitment programme, and what is going on with Jota is a rely for the club. We do not favor any deal added about by way of the software to fail.”

Scotland player ratings: All but one defender receive bad marks, current and past Celtic teammates excel, Jacob Brown judgment

How the Scotland players rated for their performance in the 3-3 draw with Norway at Hampden in the remaining Euro 2024 qualifier

We charge each Scotland player out of 10…

Zander Clark: There was once a whole lot unfair sniping in the route of the Hearts man over the two goals conceded by Scotland in Georgia closing week. More will come his way over every other three as he was once retained in aim against the Norwegians, and the mishit, bobble-up effort that eluded him in the 1/3 minute didn’t appear great. But he has been unfortunate more than some thing in these previous two games. And, as he did late on, made some decent saves. 6

Nathan Patterson: The pick out of Scotland’s returned 4 did not betray the stand-offishness of his compatriots in this area in attacking his tasks. Reflected in his vital goal-saving block to forestall Aron Donnum’s fair-travelling effort finding the goal just before the interval. An intervention offset through his slip as Mohamed Elyounoussi was once in a position to head in Norway’s late equaliser. 6

Jack Hendry: A shock absentee for ultimate Thursday’s 2-2 draw in Georgia, it was once hard to determine whether or not Scotland’s backline regarded destabilised by means of his absence or the change to a returned four. Getting himself into a fankle in the moments main up to Norway’s opener then appearing sluggish as he allowed Jorgen Larsen to steal in as he made it 2-1 for the traffic after 20 minutes, tipped the reply to that poser in the path of the latter. 5

Scott McKenna: A fourth straight start for his us of a but three dreams that Norway helped themselves to at Hampden as he in no way seemed absolutely blissful on a night time he was once booked won’t help alter perceptions that the Nottingham Forest man is back-up for Steve Clarke when others are available. 5

Greg Taylor: So a good deal came down Scotland’s left in the opening period, it ought to only be suspected that the Norwegians had identified the Celtic man as a weak link. Certainly, he has struggled no longer to make the Tartan Army rue the accidents to Andy Robertson and Kiernan Tierney this previous week. 5

Scott McTominay: Another aim to cap his free scoring, freewheeling Euro 2024 campaign with an eighth to supply him the Scottish file for a qualifying campaign proved elusive. And so did a whole lot else in an strangely unremarkable day trip for Steve Clarke’s men. 5

Callum McGregor: The one home player who showed staggering composure in a scatty, see-saw first half, the Celtic captain proved once again he is a lynchpin of Steve Clarke’s set-up, then again he configures his central area. 7

Stuart Armstrong: The precision finish he produced in the 59th minute – following high-quality combination performed with John McGinn – justified his first selection in a Scotland XI because the opening nighttime of the Euro 2024 campaign. And gave him solely a 2d strike at this level in four years. Made way for Ryan Christie in the 70th minute and Scotland misplaced a little of their rhythm then. 7

John McGinn: He should simply have a little scar on the facet of his cheek and bulging biceps (he likely does possess the latter) because he virtually is Scotland’s Action Man. The Aston Villa captain can be all legs, hands and rear end, however so regularly he is right on the scene when it happens for the country wide team. As illustrated with the aid of his cool penalty to make it 1-1 in the 11th minute – which moved him on to 18 goals for the usa and up to sixth on the all-time scorers’ listing alongside Kenny Miller – and his set-up play for Armstrong’s strike. 7

Kenny McLean: A first begin for his usa at Hampden in two-and-a-half years could be perceived as reward for his function in the Oslo miracle pivotal to Euro 2024 qualification. Alas, the game regarded to mostly pass him by – retailer for his head grazing the nook that led to the luckless Leo Ostigard turning into his own internet in the 32nd minute. 6

Jacob Brown: For all the mumping about his inclusion in advance of new Scotland darling Lawrence Shankland, the Luton striker should hardly be begrudged a first begin for Steve Clarke’s men having dutifully became up for many a squad except receiving lots game-time for the previous two years. That said, it ought to be mentioned – unstinting industry apart – little came off for him throughout his 70 minute run-out to recommend his subsequent start will be any time soon. 5

Subs: A triple alternate in the 70th minute supposed appearances for Lydon Dykes, Ryan Christie and Lewis Ferguson. Wasn’t handy for any to make an impact, a truth even truer for Ryan Jack, a 78th minute replacement, and Lawrence Shankland, delivered in the 89th minute.

The Celtic AGM has been scheduled, and the Green Brigade is expected to take center stage

As November 22 approaches, Celtic’s board braces for a probably contentious annual everyday meeting (AGM), set to be held at Celtic Park at 11:30 am.

This year’s assembly, integral for stakeholders, is clouded with the aid of current selections affecting the Green Brigade, a distinguished fan group recognized for their fervent assist however also embroiled in controversy.

The club’s latest cross to droop the season tickets of the Green Brigade participants has sparked a wave of discontent amongst the fanbase. This decision, stemming from countless incidents labeled as “unacceptable conduct” through the membership citing the use of flares at fits and disruptions at Fir Park as contributing factors to this suspension.

Soccer Football – Champions League – Group E – Celtic v Atletico Madrid – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – October 25, 2023 Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates scoring their first goal as Celtic fans wave flags in support of Palestine amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

The board’s action has been met with criticism from a great component of the Celtic supporters, who are disillusioned with the management’s handling of the situation. Additionally, the membership anticipates feasible sanctions from UEFA due to these incidents.

The AGM will provide a platform for shareholders to confront the board, together with the newly appointed chairman, Peter Lawwell, and Michael Nicholson, over these and other issues.

 

Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates scoring their first intention as Celtic fans wave flags in help of Palestine amid the ongoing combat between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist team Hamas Action Images by way of Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Apart from addressing the Green Brigade suspension, shareholders are set to vote on 11 resolutions, including the reappointment of board members and company governance matters such as the appointment and remuneration of auditors, the authority to allot shares, and the disapplication of pre-emption rights.

This meeting is pivotal as it displays the ongoing anxiety between keeping order and respecting the passionate support that types the spine of Celtic’s fanbase. With widespread choices on the horizon, this AGM guarantees to be eventful.

‘I like him,’ Davie Provan adores the 22-year-old Celtic midfielder who has ‘tormented’ Rangers

Former Celtic hero, Davie Provan, has shared why he is a big fan of injured Celtic winger, Liel Abada.

The international winger has been capped ten times for his u . s . and has been a exceptional signing for Celtic since Ange Postecoglou signed him over two seasons ago.

Abada is presently out injured till at least December after tearing a thigh muscle whilst on worldwide responsibility in October and Provan can’t wait to see him back in action.

Provan stated [The Sunday Post print edition page 60], “I’m no longer sure of Liel Abada’s restoration timetable. But he is really, clearly good. I like him so much.

“He is any other who is so younger and has plenty of time on his side. But he nevertheless does it in big games.

“He has tormented Rangers a few times.

“When I appear at the Celtic squad I see some players of excessive quality. I experience the squad is tons more suitable than what Rangers have.”

Liel Abada in reality does torment Rangers for Celtic

Celtic boss, Brendan Rodgers, hasn’t had the pleasure of taking part in the 22-year-old winger this season. Abada has solely made 5 appearances so a ways under the new Hoops boss however has scored one and created one in his brief spells on the pitch this season. [Transfermarkt]

And what Provan has stated is 100% correct. Abada truely does torment Rangers.

In ten video games in opposition to the Ibrox club, the teenager has been on the winning side five times, drew twice and misplaced simply three. He truly is one of Celtic’s most valuable assets.

Abada has observed the again of the net on three activities and has additionally created an assist. His most memorable game towards the Glasgow rivals was, of course, the 4-0 win lower back in September of remaining season where he scored a double to put Giovanni van Bronckhost’s facet to the sword.

Indeed, that overall performance was matched through his role in the 3-0 win over Rangers at Celtic Park in Postecoglou’s first season the place Celtic took the top spot that night in February and due to this fact went on to win the league.

In 106 appearances for Celtic, Abada has scored 29 desires and created 21 and the Hoops followers will be hoping to see him back quicker alternatively than later. Especially as the Asian Cup nears and they face a run of video games without Kyogo Furuhashi.

Celtic are reportedly interested in signing a £200,000-per-week winger

Celtic are involved in bringing Al-Ittihad winger Jota lower back to Celtic Park.

That is according to 90min, which has claimed that Jota should depart his membership in the January switch window.

So, what is being stated about Celtic and Jota? Let’s take a look.

What’s the story?

Well, according to 90min, Al-Ittihad winger Jota may want to be on the go in the January switch window.

The Portuguese winger joined the Saudi Pro League membership from Celtic in the summer time of 2023.

As reported by The Scottish Sun, Al-Ittihad paid Celtic £25 million in switch fees for the winger and are paying the 24-year-old £200,000 per week as salary.

Jota is not enjoying any domestic games for Al-Ittihad and has performed twice in the AFC Champions League. 90min has claimed that Celtic are “in the running to re-sign the winger”.

My View: Jota will not go lower back to Celtic

In my opinion, Celtic will not be able to sign Jota in the January transfer window.

First of all, any deal involving Celtic would be a mortgage deal. There is no way that the Hoops would be capable to come up with the money for a transfer charge as properly as pay the Portuguese star’s weekly profits of £200,000.

Why would Al-Ittihad be willing to ship a participant they signed for £25 million just a few months ago to go on mortgage in January and additionally cowl most of his wages?

If the Saudi Arabian membership do strike a loan deal with any club, then they are likely to ask them to pay Jota’s weekly earnings of £200,000.

I in my opinion do no longer assume that Jota will want to go returned to Celtic. After all, he has achieved all he should for the Hoops.

There is interest in Jota from Premier League golf equipment Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United. I accept as true with that the winger would be more tempted to cross to England than return to Scotland.

Jota wants to return to Celtic despite his regrets about his £25 million Saudi move

Former Celtic winger Jota is pushing for a return to the Scottish Champions. The 24-year-old has regrets over making the change in the summer season for Al Ittihad. Incoming boss Marcelo Gallardo will look to put his personal stamp on the group and that may additionally encompass transferring on the Portuguese attacker.

As pronounced by So3ody Sports, a Saudi outlet with the aid of Record Sport, Jota regrets making the go – which was once in simple terms financial. The go rapidly soured when he used to be no longer included in their squad list, limiting him to ACL and Domestic Cup squads only.

Al Ittihad possibly don’t see a great deal to lose from slicing a participant that they’ve only currently spent tens of tens of millions of kilos on. The Jeddah membership will in all likelihood look to free up a area for another identify from Europe that garners greater fanfare – like Fabinho, Kante and Benzema.

For Jota, though, he’s in no-man’s land. He left Celtic for a moneymaking concept however no one will be capable or inclined to match these wages in Europe. Celtic may want to be a route back to football however it seems some distance fetched. Brendan Rodgers has already said that he wants the club to deliver in fantastic and Jota would sincerely be in that category.

In eighty three appearances for Celtic, Jota has scored 28 desires and assisted 26 times. The Celtic supporters adore the Portuguese megastar and if there was a danger at a return then we’d fortunately welcome this. Ange Postecoglou and Spurs have also been linked as being involved and you would have to think about that there would be a few clubs fascinated in bringing him in from the cold.

‘Not easy’: Celtic’s £2.5m ace has another ‘disappointing’ international performance

£2.5 million Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-Gyu nonetheless hasn’t scored for his u . s . with some other barren trip for South Korea ‘disappointing’ the talented frontman.

Heading out to Asia on the lower back of two goals in Celtic’s 6-0 obliteration of Aberdeen over the weekend, Oh Hyeon-Gyu’s confidence was once genuinely high ahead of Thursday’s World Cup qualification clash with Singapore.

Though as his 20 minute cameo came and went – South Korea storming to a 5-0 win but Oh once once more failing to get on the scoresheet – the Celtic striker found himself trudging off the pitch with a acquainted sense of regret.

Celtic’s Oh Hyeon-Gyu nonetheless waiting for South Korea goal

“It’s unfortunate. There hasn’t been a goal for the countrywide crew yet,” Oh sighs, speakme to Sports G. “It’s disappointing.”

Oh’s lack of desires is truly now not for a lack of trying. Earning his seventh cap for Jurgen Klinsmann’s side, the Celtic supporters will now not have been amazed to examine that the former Suwon Bluewings frontman performed with normal intensity and drive off the bench, albeit without getting the rewards his endeavour deserved.

“It is natural for an attacker to wait with hunger,” Oh adds. “I had to hold moving, questioning that one out of ten times, (the chance) would come to me. I suppose I need to make positive I can score a goal as quickly as possible.

“It’s not easy.”

Things searching up at Hoops

Oh, who joined Celtic in January, has three goals in his last 4 appearances at club level, his recent displays silencing these who felt the 22-year-old was fighting a dropping battle attempting to prove himself underneath Brendan Rodgers.

“I am enjoying as a substitute at Celtic, and I am also playing as a substitute for the countrywide team,” Oh adds, determined to focal point on the positives.

“My body is in exact circumstance after my injury. I am geared up at any time. I am confident about being a replacement or starting player.”

Celtic are reportedly searching to deliver in every other Far Eastern talent in the New Year, Nurnberg’s Japanese playmaker Kanji Okunuki on their radar.

‘Amaizing’: Pundit believes Celtic have a 22-year-old player who is ‘frightening’

Celtic have a quantity of players proper now who are continuing to provoke pundits, media people and fans this season.

Luis Palma is certainly the man of the moment at Celtic right now as the Honduran enjoys the adulation of the supporters and his country’s media.

Kyogo Furuhashi’s goalscoring exploits proceed to impress as the Japanese striker netted as soon as more at the weekend.

But a pundit has been sincerely blown away with Celtic midfielder, Matt O’Riley this season. The 22-year-old has been in scintillating shape for Brendan Rodgers.

O’Riley’s goalscoring has extended so much under the Celtic manager this season that he has been attracting the interest from the likes of Spurs.

Former Scotland striker, Kevin Kyle, has admitted that he is a huge admirer of O’Riley and says that the midfielder is so good, it’s frightening.

Kyle stated [Open Goal], “You understand who I think is amazing? The boy [Matt] O’Riley is frightening. Callum McGregor is simply shoring the whole thing up and O’Riley simply goes anywhere he wants.

“But it’s how he takes the ball, how he receives it. He’s constantly on the half-turn. I don’t know.

“There’s being affected person but it’s his off-the-ball movement that permits him to get the opportunities.”

O’Riley’s form for Celtic has meant that he has already had to put up with some heavy switch hypothesis this season.

TBR Celtic shared this afternoon how Crystal Palace now keep an interest in O’Riley with reports claiming that any bids north of £10m will be ample to make Celtic think about accepting.

Yeah, £10m and the rest. Recently being valued at well over £12m, the amount of interest the Danish u21 international is attracting ability that any fee Celtic will ultimately acquire for O’Riley is likely to be north of £20m and more.

No doubt the nearer we get to the January window, the greater speculation we’ll hear about O’Riley however at least Celtic are secure in the know-how that after signing a new 5-year deal at the club, Celtic can demand top dollar for their prized asset.

Celtic were given a second chance to sign a £4 million striker who scored 19 goals last season

Celtic ought to have a 2nd hazard to convey in Sydney van Hooijdonk in the January transfer window as Bologna are ready to think about presents for the Serie A misfit. 

With the Dutchman already going through an uphill struggle setting up himself as Bologna’s range one centre-forward, he certainly may want to have performed without Joshua Zirkzee rediscovering the golden contact which had Manuel Neuer singing his praises at Bayern Munich a couple of years ago.

Zirkzee has been in phenomenal shape of late. Almost Berbatov-esque with his poise and finesse in the closing third. As such, a January departure appears to be the only option left handy to Sydney van Hooijdonk if the Celtic linked striker is to avoid spending the entirety of the season stuck on the sidelines.

Celtic like Sydney van Hooijdonk

Van Hooijdonk, son of former Hoops ace Pierre as you would possibly have guessed, has no longer commenced a single Serie A game in 2023/24. In fact, he’s only played 41 minutes in Italy’s top flight.

And with Bologna eyeing Porto’s former West Ham United prospect Toni Martinez, Gazzetta dello Sport are indicating that Van Hoojdonk should be allowed to depart in pursuit of extra regular action. Opportunity knocks for Celtic, then. Though whether or not Brendan Rodgers’ Premiership leaders revisit their £4 million-rated summer season goal remains to be considered (Il Resto del Carlino).

With Kyogo Furuhashi firmly established as Celtic’s number one through the middle and with Oh Hyeon-Gyu providing respectable depth in reserve, it is actually difficult to envisage a state of affairs in which Van Hooijdonk follows in his father’s footsteps and right away nails down a spot in Rodgers’ first XI.

19 dreams in one season at Heerenveen

Then again, a transient spell at Heerenveen in 2022/23 is proof of what Van Hooijdonk can do when given regular minutes and ordinary service. An old-school, broad-shouldered throwback of a number nine, the Dutchman scored 19 instances in a mid-table Eredivisie outfit, and would sincerely delight in the pigging out at a table waited on via the likes of Matt O’Riley, Daizen Maeda and Luis Palma.