Celtic have made a bold move, swapping Kyogo for Jota. While Kyogo's departure leaves a significant void in the team's attack, Jota's return will hope to ignite the spark he once possessed. Can Celtic find the missing link to replicate Kyogo's success and unlock Jota's full potential?
Kyogo has opted for the relegation battle in Ligue 1 over the allure of silverware and Champions League football with Celtic, while Jota has reversed course, returning to Glasgow after a turbulent stint in Saudi Arabia and France. This transfer saga raises crucial questions: Can Celtic adequately replace Kyogo 's goal-scoring prowess, and where does Jota fit into the team's dynamic? Kyogo 's arrival at Celtic marked a turning point. Never before had he played domestic football outside Japan.
Postecoglou, leveraging his Japanese football expertise, unearthed Kyogo from Vissel Kobe, identifying him as the ideal spearhead for his high-octane attacking system. The pairing proved a masterful stroke. Kyogo's clinical finishing and intelligent runs seamlessly integrated with the deliveries of wingers like Daizen Maeda, Jota, and Liel Abada. He was quickly hailed as Celtic's standout striker since the legendary Henrik Larsson, spearheading their dominance with three league titles, three League Cups, and two Scottish Cups. His 85 goals, including crucial strikes in Old Firm derbies, League Cup finals, and European competitions, solidified his legacy.However, Postecoglou's departure for Tottenham Hotspur and the arrival of Rodgers ushered in a less fruitful period for Kyogo. He also experienced a decline in form at the national level. While his initial season at Celtic Park saw him average a goal per game, netting 27 league goals, this dipped to half that under Rodgers' more pragmatic approach. Though still managing 19 goals across all competitions, this was mirrored by midfielder Matt O'Riley, who later moved to Brighton & Hove Albion. Kyogo's goal tally this season stands at 10 in the Premiership, a slight improvement on his previous seasons, but he never quite replicated his early magic under Rodgers.Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner observed a shift in Kyogo's demeanour after Postecoglou's departure. He noted Kyogo's initial spark and exceptional movement, which dimmed following the change in management. Bonner felt a resurgence in Kyogo's form when Celtic adopted a more attacking style reminiscent of Postecoglou's philosophy. Nevertheless, Rodgers' confirmation of Kyogo's desire to seek new challenges, coupled with Kyogo's own statement outlining his ambition to test himself in a more competitive European league, foreshadowed his departure. Kyogo's near-perfect farewell to Celtic, with three disallowed goals against Young Boys in the Champions League, served as a poignant reminder of his once-dominant presence. The specifics of the transfer remain undisclosed, but Celtic stands to make a profit considering Jota's sale to Al-Ittihad for a reported £25 million. Their anticipation now centers on Jota's ability to recapture his former brilliance. During his four seasons with Celtic, Kyogo outscored every other Celtic player by at least 15 league goals, a remarkable feat for a striker. Jota, despite being a winger, managed eight league goals, demonstrating his offensive threat. However, since leaving Celtic, Jota's fortunes have waned. He struggled to secure a place in the Al-Ittihad squad and made only 19 appearances, finishing fifth in the Saudi Pro League. His subsequent move to Rennes yielded minimal success, with only 10 appearances, three of them starts, for a team currently battling relegation.Jota's return to Celtic is tinged with nostalgia but the club holds high hopes for him to rediscover his potent goal-scoring and assist-making abilities. While his average goals per game have remained relatively consistent, his assist numbers plummeted in Saudi Arabia and France. Jota's arrival is likely to accelerate Luis Palma's departure, as he was already surplus to requirements and destined for a sale. Jota faces stiff competition for a starting place on the wing from the standout prospect Nicolas Kuhn, alongside established players like Maeda, Yang Hyun-Jyu, and James Forrest. Celtic's success hinges on finding Kyogo's replacement and unlocking Jota's full potential. The team hopes that Kyogo's departure will not unravel the intricate synergy that once propelled Jota's effectiveness. The most obvious candidate to fill Kyogo's void is already within Celtic's ranks, though he represents a different type of striker
CELTIC KYOGO JOTA TRANSFER LIGA 1 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE POSTECOGLOU RODGERS STRIKER WINGER SCOTTISH FOOTBALL
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