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.
The coach said: “Jota, for me, is one of the best talents I have coached so far. He’s so talented and I have no doubts about the success he is having and will have in the future.
“He played first-team games for Benfica but it was felt he wouldn’t get enough game time and the decision was made for him to go abroad. To move to Celtic is great for him, they are a big club in Europe.
“Jota is doing so well there and helping Celtic to achieve another level. Jota is getting better and better at Celtic and I can see him going on to play for some of the biggest clubs in the world because he has the talent to be a truly amazing player.”
The former Monaco assistant manager, where he was No.2 to Thierry Henry, admitted he had a massive smile when he saw Jota net his Champions League free kick in the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
Tralhao said: “I’m very happy because Jota was one of my main proteges. I worked for almost 19 years with the youths at Benfica.
“When I saw Jota play against Real and score I had a big smile because it is so rewarding to see these boys do so well at the top level. If my work has helped them along the way then that makes me feel really, really happy.
“Jota has a star quality not only as a player but as a person. He’s full of character but very humble and a real family person. It is great to see Jota do well. I can see him making an impact on the Portuguese squad in the next year then becoming one of their most important players.”
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