Jota to miss out on Al-Ittihad squad registration leaving ex Celtic star in limbo when Saudi transfer window shuts

Reason for Jota Al-Ittihad transfer exit 'revealed' | Celtic Way

The winger could be left in the wilderness if not registered to play for the Saudi outfit

Jota will be left out of Al-Ittihad’s squad registration, according to reports in Saudi Arabia.

The former Celtic winger’s future has been up in the air for some time now after it emerged that his new club were potentially looking to offload him just weeks after signing him for £25million from the Hoops. Saudi sides are only allowed a certain number of foreign players in their squad and were lining up further marquee signings including Liverpool superstar Mo Salah.

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Jota was already struggling for a space and that was before they signed Luiz Felipe from Sevilla today and the Portuguese star will now find it even tougher. Reports in Jeddah now suggest that the 24-year-old will miss out on a place in the squad when it’s registered following the closure of the transfer window.

That could leave him in limbo if he doesn’t find a new club before it closes tonight.

Steven Gerrard was previously said to be keen to take him to his club, Al-Ettifaq while fellow Pro League side Al-Shabab were also quoted.

Maurizio Sarri puts Celtic and Champions League in priority as ‘blocked’ Lazio transfer earns Galatasaray chief pot shot

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The hardened Italian coach ‘blocked’ a transfer at the eleventh hour to make priority for the Champions League.

Maurizio Sarri isn’t taking Celtic or the Champions League group stage lightly after he ‘blocked’ the transfer exit of a key player at the eleventh hour.

The former Chelsea boss is at the centre of some transfer market controversy after defender come midfielder Matías Vecino looked set to join Turkish giants Galatasaray, with terms reportedly agreed between the player and the Serie A side. Celtic will square off with the Rome outfit after besting them in the Europa League under Neil Lennon, with glamour ties against Atletico Madrid and Dutch champions Feyenoord making up the hefty group.

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But Sarri has been fighting fires since the transfer window closed with the Lazio coach said to have been ‘completely’ out of the loop that star man Vecino was to leave for Turkey. Reports suggest that Galatasaray were even prepared for the 32-year-old to flight in to seal the deal before the Italian vetoed the move.

Galatasaray chief Erden Timur explained the confusing process when quizzed this afternoon, as the Turkish side instead moved for Tanguy Ndombele from Spurs, who was joined by Tottenham teammate Davinson Sanchez in heading for Instanbul. Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou had seemingly deemed both surplus to requirements.

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Timur explain that manager Okan Buruk wanted Vecino instead of Frenchman Ndombele, but that it was Sarri’s final call that led to the transfer being blocked. He said: “Our coach chose Vecino because he can play 6-8. We talked to Vecino and agreed with his club as well. He was also talking to Muslera and Torreira. However, at the last moment, Sarri opposed the player’s departure. He even reacted.”