He’s Portuguese & he scores with ease .. walking in a Jota wonderland
New Bhoy hopes to be smash hit like idol Cadete
JORGE CADETE was topping the charts at Celtic.
But the Hoops’ latest signing knows all about the legend left behind by his compatriot with the rock star hairdo.
The 22-year-old winger has become the first Portuguese player at Parkhead since cult hero Cadete was banging in the goals for Tommy Burns’ side in 1996-97. Thirty in 37 league games to be precise.
It’s a stat that might not have won the striker any trophies other than Scotland’s top scorer – but it was enough to enshrine his legacy in a favourite terracing chant. Jota has heard it all and is suitably impressed.
But as the Benfica loanee embarks on his journey in the east end of Glasgow, he’s determined to be a smash hit on his own accord.
And that means going one better than Cadete and bringing home the Premiership title.
Speaking to the media for the first time since securing his loan move, he said: “Ah Jorge Cadete – 30 goals in 37 games!
“Of course he is a big hero back home. He did very well at
Celtic, his statistics are amazing. I know that Celtic fans always remember him for that.
“But I don’t think about trying to be someone else.
“Every player has his past and I’m working every day to have my time. I want to make my own story at Celtic and be a success here myself.
“There’s healthy competition for places and it’s good to have such talented, competitive players. We learn every single day and get better. That’s the aim of football players, to get better.
“I’m confident that I will learn with them. I can help them and they will help me.
“At the end of the day the most important thing is to win games as a group and win titles.”
Jota jumped at the chance of moving on loan to Celtic for the season – a deal that was completed on deadline day with the option for it to become permanent at the end of term.
Not only the stature of the club but Ange Postecoglou’s attacking philosophy had the 18-times capped Portugal Under-21 winger jumping through hoops to join the Aussie’s revolution.
Playing at Celtic Park and experiencing European nights has long been an ambition though – and Jota admits he even owns a Hoops scarf from his childhood.
Asked about his knowledge of Celtic Park, he said: “Paradise isn’t it? Welcome to Paradise! I’m really looking forward to playing here. I have seen a lot of Celtic matches in the last few years against big European clubs.
“I have seen PSG, Barcelona and these type of teams play at Celtic Park.
“I always thought there was something special about that place. A different atmosphere.
“I might not be able to predict the future but I wanted to feel that atmosphere.
“It’s the best thing that could happen at this stage of my career.
“There’s a funny story, actually. When I was younger at Benfica, I think I was 11 or 12 years old, I went to watch Benfica play in the Champions League and I changed scarves with a Celtic
fan. I still have it at home – green and white – and since then I have always remembered the club and paid attention to what they are doing.”
Jota has experienced Champions League and Europa League football with Benfica but spent last season on loan at Real Valladolid after falling out of Jorge Jesus’ plans.
He still has three years left on his contract in Lisbon and has a £6.5million option to buy inserted in his Hoops loan.
The wide man rubbished suggestions things haven’t worked out at Benfica – instead preferring to focus on fighting to get in Postecoglou’s side, starting this week at home to Ross County. He said: “Things worked fine. I am here at Celtic. Things are better than perfect. “Once I knew about (Celtic’s interest) I just wanted to come. “It’s the right place because of the name, the history and the things Celtic have achieved in the past and the type of football the club is playing right now. “It’s suits me and I just want to learn as much as possible off the coach and my team-mates. “The way the manager wants to play, the way the team is set up, it’s an aggressive, dynamic mentality. He wants the team to attack and score as many goals as we can. That was a big trigger for me to come here. “I’m not thinking about Europe yet. There’s a match before then against Ross County. I’ll be ready whenever I’m needed.”