FORMER Celtic star Jota has been left out of Saudi side Al-Ittihad’s squad despite being the club’s record signing, according to reports.
The winger, 24, joined the club from Celtic for £25million in July.
GettyJota has been axed from the Al-Ittihad squad, according to reports[/caption]
The signing looked to represent a major coup for Ittihad given that the winger is in the prime of his career.
He scored 15 goals and assisted 12 times during a fine 2022-23 season under Ange Postecoglou at Celtic.
However, Al Riyadh sports journalist Hattan Al Najjar reports that Jota has been jettisoned from Al-Ittihad’s Saudi Premier League squad.
Al Najjar wrote: “Jota will be excluded from the list of [Al Ittihad] professionals in the league, according to the new system.”
Jota has cut a peripheral figure since joining the Saudi side, playing just 133 minutes across five matches and scoring one goal.
Jota looked to be a statement signing for Al-Ittihad after arriving alongside Karim Benzema and N’golo Kante.
He has been left out of the squad to accommodate the new signing of defender Luiz Felipe from Real Betis – who cost a reported £18.8m.
Saudi sides are limited by the league in how many foreign players they can register and it looks as though Felipe will take Jota’s place.
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Al-Ittihad were heavily linked with a move for Liverpool star Mohamed Salah with the Saudi side reportedly prepared to bid up to £215m on the winger.
But, Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp held firm in their desire to hold onto the Egyptian superstar.
It is likely Al-Ittihad will return with another bid in January.
Al-Hilal sit joint top of the Saudi Pro League on 13 points, ahead of Al-Taawoun on goal difference.
Their next fixture will be against Al-Akhdoud on September 14.