Upon his departure from Celtic in July 2023, Jota expressed gratitude for every raindrop in Glasgow.
Perhaps that was simply nostalgia speaking or maybe the winger didn't anticipate he would be facing the Scottish climate again when he headed for Saudi Arabia 18 months ago.
If rain was a blessing then a delayed flight due to a red weather warning courtesy of Storm Eowyn was cause for celebration for Jota, perhaps not for the journey disruption but at least for the irrefutable proof he was heading back to his adopted home.
Brendan Rodgers expects Jota to be unveiled as a Celtic player for the third time - first on loan, then as a permanent signing and now upon his return - over the weekend.
Few, though, could have anticipated this scenario coming to pass in such a short period and at such a cut-price fee.
Scotland to Saudi Arabia to France and back to Scotland. To quote Jota's farewell message to Celtic supporters as he finalised a lucrative move to Al-Ittihad: "...what a f***ing ride."
It hasn't been plain sailing for the 25-year-old. His Saudi switch was plagued by registration issues with Jota viewed as expendable and left out of the league squad limiting him to action in cup competitions only.
So bizarre was Jota's spell in Saudi that he was touted for more possible escape routes than he had starting spots in the Ittihad line-up.
Struggles since Scotland were not isolated to his time in the Middle East either, with his move to Rennes in 2024 - a transfer which saw the Saudi Pro League lose £17m on their initial investment - far from a roaring success.
The Lisbon-born playmaker played just 10 times for Rennes, scoring once. With two years left on his deal and Rennes willing to negotiate, a return to Celtic is a no-brainer for all parties.
Aside from the kudos of bringing back a fan favourite, Celtic chiefs have some 17 million reasons for any self-congratulatory statements when Jota completes his £8.4m plus sell-on fees return.
Taking football or any relationships out of the equation, selling a player for £25m and getting him back two years later for in the region of £8m is an outstanding piece of business.
When reports first emerged over Jota trading Rennes for Celtic with Kyogo Furuhashi going the other way immediate alarm bells were understandably raised over the deal being some kind of back of the French cigarette packet solution.
On closer inspection, that couldn't be further from the truth. Is it opportunistic? Of course. But it is not a panic purchase to placate any angst over the loss of Kyogo.
Jota's arrival is another Celtic transfer masterstroke, see the signing and sale of the winger the first time around, the arrival and lucrative departure of Matt O'Riley and even the simultaneous Kyogo deal - which will see Celtic profit around £5m.
There are, though, a couple of caveats to Jota's return to Glasgow.
While Jota remains an immense talent, his significant lack of game time over the course of the last two years is cause for concern.
The lesser fee Celtic will pay for the winger is the result of less impactful periods for Jota. The player returning is not the same one who contributed to 54 goals in 83 games in Glasgow the first time around.
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The core player is still there but the recency bias suggests he is not at the level he once was. Fortunately, his best football came in Scotland and there is little to suggest that won't be the case again, with time.
Jota will immediately come back into the Scottish Premiership with ambitions to be in the discussion as the best player in the league. History suggests it is likely he will fit that bill again.
What is crucial, though, is that Jota has the time to get back up to speed and fully understand the new system under Rodgers.
While many Celtic supporters will be desperate to see Jota back in the starting XI, realists might predict a lengthy wait with Nico Kuhn and Daizen Maeda performing too well to be dislodged without a fight.
Kyogo's departure will cause inevitable change from the regular front-three at Celtic with Adam Idah the likely replacement in the centre.
Celtic are on the hunt for a new centre-forward to bolster their frontline on top of the addition of Jota. Long-time target Mathias Kvistgaarden has been in the conversation again with rumours of a 'big name loan signing from the Premier League' growing pace.
Given their prowess in navigating the transfer window, you wouldn't bet against Celtic heading into the second half of the season with an improved squad and with a few million extra in the bank.
Throw a potential move for Kieran Tierney into the mix - again at a bargain basement fee - after his £25m transfer to Arsenal and perhaps the "mystical fog flowing around Celtic Park" that Jota previously cited requires credible investigation.
Celtic sign to succeed and then sell on. They have a legitimate recruitment model and don't throw money away. In two years' time it would come as no surprise to see Jota - if he hits the heights of his first spell - bid farewell again for a record fee.
When Jota left Celtic, he vowed he was "Forever yours". Celtic's continuing masterclass in the transfer market would suggest that might not, literally, be the case for long.
