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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Alan Galindo

Jota Al-Ittihad training inside look as ex-Celtic star gets down to work with Karim Benzema and Co

Jota has kicked off his Al-Ittihad chapter as the club released footage of the team getting back to work.

The video starts with the team arriving at their digs before they get back on the bus and head for the training ground. The former Celtic man can be seen numerous times as he gets in the zone by sitting with his headphones in on the bus journey. The clip then shows the likes of Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante ahead of the hard work getting underway as the club showcase their big name transfers ahead of the new season.

The near five minute video covers from the warm-up to training drills as as the coaches bark out instructions and the players start to build bonds under the floodlights. Former Hoops star Jota made the switch for a reported fee in the region of £25million following two years in Glasgow with the Scottish champions.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou details Celtic texts with Brendan Rodgers as he admits he's 'absolutely right man''

Ange Postecoglou initially brought the winger to Parkhead on a loan deal from Benfica before shelling out £6.5million last summer to get the deal over the line as a priority signing for his side. 15 goals and 12 assists last term helped the Hoops claim a domestic Treble with Jota ending his time in Glasgow with five medals from a possible six and Champions League experience including a goal against new team-mate Benzema's Real Madrid in the Bernabeu in a moment he described as 'one of the best moments of my life'.

He's now plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League under the watch of countryman Nuno Espirito Santo with former Hearts gaffer Ian Cathro his number two in the Middle East.

Jota will also get the chance to face Cristiano Ronaldo and a host of other big names who continue to make the switch.

He signed off with a hugely emotional tribute to Celtic. Uploading a video to his Instagram profile, he said: "No words will ever express how grateful I am for this ride. Let me tell you something, what a f*****g ride.

"I stepped into Paradise as a young lad with dreams to fulfil and a single goal, to find happiness doing what I love the most. I was scared, I had doubts, and I didn’t know what to expect from something that in the end turned out to be one of the most beautiful stories ever.

"People often ask me what is so special about Celtic and I feel like there’s no straight answer. There’s no fair answer for it. The answer lies in a deep feeling, a sense, an emotion. There’s a mystical fog flowing around Celtic Park that induces you to this sense of football edge. This football heritage gave us unforgettable moments and you can’t explain it, you need to feel it. You need to respect it.

“I’m such a lucky man to have lived two years of excitement and getting to evolve as a football player and as a person. To the players, to the staff and for all of the involved departments, a big thank you from me. You made me better.

“To the fans, and I always say this, you guys found a way of loving me more than my previous girlfriends and I guarantee you that we were crazy in love. For what matters, I think I loved you more than them so believe me, I’ll love you for life.

“I’ve recently learned that happiness is not found at the finishing line, it lies in the path. I am grateful for every rain drop in Glasgow, every trip to the Highlands, and 'wow those were long'. Every bit of Glaswegian banter and so it goes on, so many stories, so many things to remember.

"Celtic will always have a special place in my heart, and one day my biggest dream will be to sit down with my kids and just tell them how magical and special this place is because life is all about stories and this one was just unbelievable.

"Today I become another fan, the ones that live and make the club. Forever yours."

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