My mate Jota is a legend & he plays just like me
Jair aims to cop Celt’s route from Benfica to Scots stardom
JAIR TAVARES has spent his career following in the footsteps of Jota.
But now the Portuguese winger has made the journey from Benfica B to the Scottish Premiership just like his trailblazer, he is determined to stop him in his tracks.
Tavares can’t wait to start in the Scottish game after signing a four-year deal with Hibs.
The 21-year-old sought the guidance of his long-time friend before agreeing to switch from Lisbon to Leith.
It’s advice he trusts like that of his own brother after spending the best part of 16 years coming through the Benfica academy in the slipstream of the Celtic fans’ favourite. And Tavares said: “Jota was a legend of Benfica in the academy.
“He was one of the guys like me who didn’t have the chance to play at Benfica. We had to look to the future because of this. He did amazing last season and I’m here to support him too.
“He was always so good. When he was young there was a big difference between him and the others.
“Do I think he will stay at Celtic? I guess. I don’t know but I think yes.
“I asked him about Scottish football and about Hibs too. He gave me some good advice, told me some good things about Hibs. He said besides Rangers and Celtic he thought Hibs were more or less the third strongest team in Scotland.
“He helped me so much to decide to come here.
“I’ve known him for a long time. Maybe since I was 10. But I hope this season when we play against him we win. Everyone knows he is a machine but we are here to stop him.”
Tavares has yet to kick a ball in Scotland but he’s not shy in setting out his stall. He added: “In terms of football Jota plays like me – or I mean I play like him! But he told me in Scotland football isn’t like the rest of Europe. He said it’s more intense, more physical.
“In Europe it’s maybe a bit more technical. So players like us can have big fame and a good trajectory and it’s why we come to Scotland.”
Tavares didn’t have far to travel for his first action with his new team-mates as he joined up with Hibs on this week’s pre-season training camp in the Algarve. The blistering heat in one of mainland Europe’s most southerly spots might be a breeze to him – even if the triple sessions being put on by Lee Johnson and Jamie McAllister aren’t.
Now he is preparing to pull on a strip other than Benfica’s for the first time in his life, starting against Paul Hartley’s Hartlepool this morning.
And Tavares said: “I never played for another club but Benfica. Since I was six – that’s been 16 years – so moving here is a big step.
“I am here to help and give some happiness to the fans too as they are so important. I had a lot of options. But the coach convinced me to come to Hibs.
“He gave me a lot of trust. I believe in him, the staff and the opportunity they are giving to me.
“I have never been down in this area to train – Algarve is just for holidays and the rest of the year nobody comes here.
“It has been a nice start. Although I have never had three sessions a day!
“It’s tough – it’s good though. I’m improving and learning all the time. That’s what I’m here to do as well as to help the team.”