John Hartson knows why players come to Celtic and end up smooching the badge.
The big Welshman fell head over heels for the Hoops during his time in Glasgow and he’s convinced departed star Jota felt exactly the same way. Hartson’s heart was well in Glasgow but he holds his hands up and admits if the kind of offer came in like the one the Portuguese winger has just signed in Saudi Arabia, he’d also be kissing the place goodbye.
Jota has taken stick from some quarters for joining Al-Ittihad on a £25million deal worth up to £200,000 per week. But Hartson has refused to join the queue of critics labelling the wide man a mercenary. There are some deals that are just too good to turn down – even if leaving does tug at the heart strings. Hartson told MailSport: “I know Celtic has so much sentimental value. It’s a great club and you’re idolised.
“You get recognition literally everywhere you go. Jota will have felt that. That’s the pull of Glasgow. Players who come here can end up staying. They bring their family here because of the adulation you get and what this city does to you. You can fall in love with the club. I fell in love with Celtic.
“But there is no doubt that if I’m on £30k a week and I’m offered £200k a week somewhere else, it’s a no-brainer. I would kiss every Celtic fan goodbye and shake their hands. I’d thank them for everything. But I’m sorry, I’d have to say, this is an opportunity that’s going to change my life and change my world for the rest of my days. I don’t know too many footballers or managers who get offered astronomical money and don’t make the change.
“Even for supporters, if they were working in an office for a certain company and they get invited by another company to come for five or six times more money than they’re on, you can’t tell me they wouldn’t go.
“If they did, they’re lying. We’d all be there in a minute. It’s human nature.” Jota has been branded selfish by some snipers but Hartson reckons the mega- money move is anything but.
The 24-year-old may have turned his back on Europe and the chance to perform in the Champions League. But he has the opportunity to share the love beyond the football pitch. Hartson said: “We all want to help our families. The first thing I did when I earned enough money was buy my parents a house. You’re also thinking about looking after your parents who have struggled all their life bringing you up.
“For a player, it’s a dream to buy your mum and dad a half-a-million house when they’ve lived in a council estate for 50 years. You try to treat everyone, whether it’s your sister or brother, whoever. It’s a chance to change your whole family’s world around. You can’t underestimate how important that is. And it’s hard for these guys to say no.”
It was too tasty a deal for Celtic to turn down as well. Brendan Rodgers may have a Jota-shaped hole in his squad but he’s got a large chunk of change to fill it. The returning Hoops boss has already been told there’s funds to finance a decent crack at the Champions League – and the Jota dosh will boost it even more. The winger will be a loss but everyone can still end up a winner.
Hartson said: “My initial reaction is we’ve lost one of our best players from last season. But the more I thought about it, if we’re getting £25m for him and he’s then multiplying his wages – how do you stop the lad from going? You just can’t. Brendan has just come back to the club and probably did his utmost to try and get Jota to stay.
“But ultimately, if the boy has been given an offer that blows everything else out of the water, unfortunately you have to accept that he’s on his way. It’s a difficult balancing act. It’s an offer the club can’t turn down but Brendan has lost one of his best players.
“In his head he’ll have put a team together for the new season – and Jota would have been in it. But it’s hard to tell a player he’s not going in a scenario like that.”
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