Jota has been tipped to become one of Portugal’s main men and rocket to the very top of European football by the man who helped light the fuse.
Benfica youth chief Joao Tralhao has helped some of the continent’s best players, including Bernardo Silva and Joao Felix, through the Eagles’ ranks and he is adamant the Celtic winger is right up there. Jota forced his way into the Benfica first-team and then went on loan to Real Valladolid but his former coach thinks moving to Scotland has taken his career to a new level.
The 23-year-old had a successful first season where he helped Ange Postecoglou’s side to win a double and convinced Celtic to pay £6million to sign him on a permanent basis. He’s been key for Postecoglou with 13 goals and 14 assists last term and he has continued that with seven goals and six assists already this season, ahead of the World Cup break. Tralhao has been delighted with the way he has shone at Celtic. He thinks he’ll continue to get better and better and it’s only a matter of time before one of Europe’s biggest clubs comes calling for the Portuguese playmaker.
