Jota - Coming Home!

The date is November 20, 2012 and Celtic have just played Benfica in Lisbon in a UEFA Champions League group match.

The teams have already draw 0-0 at Paradise and as the supporters of both sides stream out of the Estadio da Luz following a game won 2-1 by the home side, two supporters out of the 49,000 heading out into the dusk of the Portuguese capital just happen to cross paths.

One is a 13-year-old Benfica academy hopeful, happy that his side have won 2-1 and the other is a Celtic supporter who, despite the scoreline, is looking for a memento before the long flight home.

That 13-year-old was Joao Pedro Neves Filipe, now known as Jota, and the twist of fate from that night has now come full circle as that wide-eyed youngster joined the Hoops in the summer 2021 transfer window.

The new Bhoy said: “I’ve always paid attention to Celtic. When I was younger and I was with Benfica and Celtic were playing them in the Champions League. I remember that I went to the stadium and I changed scarves with a Celtic fan.

“I think I still have it at home in Portugal. So since that day I’ve always remembered that club – Celtic. And then I paid attention because there were a lot of young players breaking though and I know a lot of players that have been playing for Celtic. It’s a historical club, so I’ve been paying attention.

“It was at the end of the game when we were returning home and I saw a few Celtic fans, and they asked if we wanted to switch scarves.

'I gave him my scarf and he gave me his, so it was a nice gesture.'

“My mum is here in Scotland with me and she says she thinks she still has it – I will try to bring it!”

Celtic’s amazing away support and one fan particular with that ‘nice gesture’ unwittingly played their part in the club’s capture of Jota over a decade later.

 

Makes Armstrong's hair look pish..

 

Sounds like a great lad

 

Lads, I think I fancy him

 

Jota shoved a chocolate bar up his *, careless wispa.

 

I defo would

 

Genuinely seems like a lovely lad. I hope it works out.

 

Is Jota just his nickname then?

Looking forward to seeing him play

 

Reckon the birds will be jealous of his brows an all

 

The guy looks like a conquistador minus the dumb hair doo. Let’s hope he shows that kinda of ruthlessness against the Huns.

 

He's gonna be class.

 

Young Filipe could turn out to be an Abada on the left side.

 

Looks like a young George Micheal...

 

Im disappointed at the lack of Wham and George Micheal song puns or have I missed them?

Quite in here during international break..

 

I know it's not a Wham or George Michael pun but I hope he's not as BAD as Wham or George Michael were. Sorry to any fans in here but they were fukin' awful.

 

If they're selling these at Parkhead, I'll buy one.

Would want proof though.

 

Think you're mistaken mate. Bad was Michael Jackson.

 

I wanna be Jota