It's now or never but the Parkhead hero might have finally landed an ally just as the end game nears.
Al-Ittihad will appoint former Milan boss Stefano Pioli as their new manager on a three-year deal as the uncertainty of the future of unwanted Jota is finally set to be resolved.
Multiple reports arrived out of the Middle East last week which stated the revered Parkhead icon would be granted a shot to end his nightmare with the deposed Saudi Pro League champions – either on loan or in a permanent deal. And another update out of Saudi claimed Jota "would love" to go back to Celtic 12 months on from his stunning £25m exit.
It appeared the end game was here but Jota might be finally in line to land an ally in the form of Pioli. His two managers at Ittihad, so far, have been an ill-fit in getting the best out of his abilities. Nuno was panned for his defensive-minded approach and mega-hyped Marcelo Gallardo – talked up in South America as the second coming – was an unmitigated disaster with his old school 4-4-2 failing miserably during seven ill-fated months.
But now it's D-Day for Jota as if Pioli decides against keeping him then there is no way back. The Italian's whole way of playing football centres around wingers and their ability to beat their man. Rafael Leao was Pioli's main attacking weapon at Milan and he's a player Jota knows inside out.
Perhaps Jota will exit soon, however, Pioli appears his last best in turning around his fortunes in Saudi. And if time is up then speculation about a Parkhead return will be ramped up.
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