Portuguese footballer, Jota ‘mysteriously departs Al-Ittihad’ just one month after joining the Saudi Pro League side for £25m

Portuguese winger Jota has reportedly left Al-Ittihad, a Saudi Pro League side, just one month after joining them. The 24-year-old had signed a £25 million deal in July, leaving Celtic to join Al-Ittihad. He was part of a star-studded team that won the Pro League last season, playing alongside notable players like Fabinho, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kante.

Jota had made two appearances for Al-Ittihad, both of which were goalless. His most recent involvement was as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Al-Tai, where he played for only 16 minutes. The exact reason for his sudden departure from the club is not clear, but there are suggestions that he might have been sent out on loan.

Al-Ittihad hero Mohammad Nour expressed his opinion that Jota’s departure is for the best, describing the reported decision as “brave.” He stated that recent matches had shown Jota might not be suitable for the team, and it’s better to make a change early on rather than risk starting the season with a player who might not fit.

The club’s manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, had previously hinted at possible transfer activity, suggesting that Al-Ittihad could be signing a defender and a winger in the coming days. While there’s no official explanation for Jota’s departure, these recent developments indicate that there might have been ongoing discussions or evaluations within the club about their squad composition.