Gordon Strachan admits he has no problem with Jota moving to Saudi Arabia.
The Celtic winger has departed the Scottish champions for a big money fee to Al-Ittihad and is set to bank huge wages after penning a three-year deal. He will ply his trade under countryman Nuno Espirito Santo and team up with superstars Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante - who will provide a real learning curve for the 24-year-old says the ex-Hoops gaffer.
Strachan - who also previously managed Scotland - has challenged anyone to be put in that same position and turn down the massive wage hikes on offer. In three years time at the end of his current contract Jota will be only 27 and coming up for the peak of his career. He will be a huge miss for Celtic after two hugely successful seasons in Scotland.
READ MORE: Josip Juranovic sends Jota three word Celtic exit message ahead of starting Al-Ittihad journey
Brendan Rodgers is now at the helm after Ange Postecoglou's exit for a crack at the English Premier League with Tottenham but the new boss has been handed a major boost with Kyogo Furuhashi penning a new long-term contract util 2027. Explaining why Jota's move to the Middle East makes sense, Strachan told Genting Casino: "I think every player in Britain now is sat by their phone waiting for the Saudi telephone code to flash up. When that call comes in, players will start singing and dancing (laughs).
"I would challenge anyone to turn down an offer of fifteen times their wages. You have to remember that the player will have a family that he will want to look after and, there is no doubt about it that that kind of backing can take care of that.
"Even if he were to join the club for a period of three years, and then he can move on and do what he wants after that. I see absolutely no problem with any player making that decision.
"Let’s not forget that he’ll be playing alongside the likes of Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, which will be a real learning curve for him. I see no problem with it and its also going to make the club a lot of money.
"It's easy for people to question the players desire, but once that money is presented to you, it becomes hard to turn down. And I bet the pundits that are criticising him would all do exactly the same thing if they were offered the chance to."
On selling Celtic to potential new incomings under Rodgers, he added: "First of all, you’ve got the atmosphere, which is unrivalled. Celtic vs Rangers as a game is unmatched in terms of its intensity. Sometimes it can be a bit vitriolic.
"If you want to be a top player that players for a top club, then Celtic is a wonderful place to come and develop because it’s a club where you’re expected to win every match. There is a huge amount of pressure playing for a club like Celtic.
"Everything you say in the press is scrutinised. You will quickly learn a lot of the fundamentals that all top players have to possess.
"You have the platform of the Champions League. A lot of players, Virgil van Dijk for example, performed well in the Champions League before moving to the Premier League. I wouldn’t call Celtic a stepping stone, but, if you’re looking to progress in your career, then this is a great club to be at.
"There’s a huge opportunity to show that, as a player, you can handle the stress, the pressure and the expectation of playing for a massive club like Celtic. You’ll have to do well of course, otherwise nobody will want you!"
