There is now a “decent chance” that Celtic winger Jota will return to his parent club Benfica at the end of the season, according to Portuguese football expert Alex Goncalves.
The Hoops do have an option to buy the 22-year-old but the final decision is down to the player. With Benfica keen on having him back, Goncalves suggests it could lead to the player leaving Parkhead:
Benfica obviously remain keen to keep hold of João ‘Jota’ Filipe, hence why Celtic still haven’t managed to sign him permanently. All still up to Jota, but Benfica would like him to return to his boyhood club. There’s a feeling that there’s a decent chance it’ll happen. pic.twitter.com/jWSU8kS43Y
— Alex Goncalves (@Aljeeves) January 20, 2022
Fans on Twitter are, unsurprisingly, disappointed with this latest development and many are pessimistic about Celtic’s chances of keeping Jota beyond the summer:
Can’t see him staying unfortunately
— matthew 🏴🇯🇵 (@mxtt188) January 20, 2022
Not good news 🥲
— Carol (@carol2244m) January 20, 2022
Hard to say no to your boyhood club.
— Joey (FMGee) (@FMGee_) January 20, 2022
boooooooo @slbenfica_en leave him alone
— jamie 🏴 (@bvbjamiee) January 20, 2022
Defo no staying no getting ma hopes up
— Jack 🏴 (@Jack98Uptherebs) January 20, 2022
He was never going to stay after Benfica sacked their manager. Let’s just enjoy him while he’s here.
— Bhoy in Red 🔴🍀🇵🇸 (@BhoyinRed) January 20, 2022
Another Fraser Forster story here. Back to his main club to sit on a bench 🤦🏻♂️
— Jack Prentice (@JackPGBRf) January 20, 2022
As Goncalves points out, the Hoops have been working on getting Jota to sign on a permanent basis but the fact that it hasn’t happened yet is not a good sign.
If Benfica are looking to keep Jota and they have promised him first-team football next season, there is not much chance of him agreeing to stay in Scotland beyond his current loan spell.
