Q: Welcome back to Celtic. How does it feel?
Jota: Feels amazing. Feels like home. Feels like time has stopped and I just activated a button, and it’s on again. Going to Lennoxtown today was just like, “Whoa, it seems like I’ve never left.” The people, the place itself, the training—it was just a really good feeling for me, and I was really happy, to be fair. I just can’t wait to start playing and enjoying it all again.
Q: How did this move come about? When did you find out it was a possibility to re-sign for Celtic?
Jota: Well, there’ve always been talks, even if they weren’t serious. I kept in touch with a lot of people at Celtic, and this would always come up—even as a joke. But I think, in every joke, there’s a bit of truth, and eventually, it started to get more serious. We started to see the possibilities. In the end, I took some time for myself and thought, “Okay, I think this is a smart move for my career. Why not?” So, let’s do it.
Q: It’s new players, a different manager. Does this feel like a completely different challenge compared to the first time you walked through the doors?
Jota: I would say that Celtic, as a club, has a very specific way of playing and living Celtic, if you know what I mean. Obviously, players and managers will change with time, but Celtic will always be here. Only nine or ten players have stayed since last time, so there’s been a big change. There are lads I don’t know yet, and I’ll need to get to know them. But as soon as we connect, I think it’ll be very good. I’ve also had a couple of talks with the manager, and I really like his approach to the game. So, yeah, interesting things are coming.
Q: The first time you were here, you had a great relationship with the fans and supporters. Is that something you’re looking forward to rekindling?
Jota: Yeah, 100%. I missed Celtic fans for sure. The feeling and sensation of playing at Celtic Park or away games—it was just tremendous. That’s something I’m really looking forward to.
Q: You’ve not had as much game time in the past year or so as you might have wanted. How are you feeling physically? Are you ready to hit the ground running, or will it take time to get back to your best?
Jota: To be clear, the numbers don’t lie—I haven’t played consistently for a long time. There’s no amount of training that can give you what games give you. So, obviously, there’ll be a time when I’ll need to gain the physical aspect back. But I believe that once it starts to flow, good things will happen naturally.
Q: Do you feel you have a point to prove coming back to Celtic?
Jota: No, I don’t think so. That’s pressure people put on themselves, and it usually works against them. I see it more as a responsibility, which is much healthier—the responsibility to perform, to help my teammates, to deliver on the pitch, and to win matches and titles. That’s what I’m here to do. If there’s something to prove, I think I’ve done it before, so I believe I can do it again.
Q: You mentioned your time away hasn’t been the most productive on the pitch, but you said you’ve grown personally. Can you explain how the challenges you faced helped you grow?
Jota: The last year and a half was much more about personal growth than professional. I dealt with a lot of situations on the professional side, but I never gave up. I always aimed to fight and get better. I’m proud of myself because I overcame it. I’ve matured a lot since last time—not a different Jota, but I’ve grown in many aspects.
Q: During your first spell, you had memorable nights in Europe. How much have European competitions like the Champions League factored into conversations with Brendan Rodgers?
Jota: Not much, to be fair. I think that’s already implied in the process. You don’t need to convince a player about that when you come to Celtic—you already know the circumstances. Our conversations were about other things, but obviously, I’m excited about it.
Q: Do you know what number you’ll be wearing?
Jota: No, that’s still to be decided.
Q: You said you’re not much on social media, but Celtic fans have been going crazy about your return. Another Portuguese player, Paulo Bernardo, is also in the squad now. Do you know him well?
Jota: Yeah, Paulo is someone I played with when I was at Benfica. When he signed for Celtic, I stayed in touch with him, telling him I’d be here to help him and that he was coming to a very big club. It’s funny how life works in mysterious ways—one and a half years later, we’re back together and playing for the same team again. It’s amazing to have another Portuguese player here.
Q: Have you been following Celtic recently? You mentioned seeing the Ross County match. Have you kept up with their games and Champions League exploits?
Jota: Yeah, whenever I got the opportunity, I’d watch Celtic. I had a lot of friends here, so I wanted to see how they were doing. Celtic was such an amazing experience for me that I just wanted to root for them. So, yeah, I’ve been watching.
Q: What did you miss most about Celtic and Glasgow?
Jota: About Celtic, it’s the atmosphere at the games—the sensation it gives. People keep asking me, “How is it? What’s it like?” And it’s hard to explain. You really need to live it to understand. For me, as a footballer, fighting, scoring, and being part of it—it’s something special, spectacular. As for Glasgow, I missed the people. The people in Glasgow are the best thing.
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