Nuno Espirito Santo, the manager of Nottingham Forest, has faced criticism for a transfer to his former club Al-Ittihad.
Nuno recruited Jota from Celtic for £25 million in July 2023, while he was in charge of the Saudi Pro League club. But the Portuguese forward scarcely featured before Nuno was ousted four months later and replaced by Marcelo Gallardo.
Jota went on to score just five goals in 29 appearances for Al-Ittihad, sparking talk that he might quit the club this summer and maybe return to Celtic. However, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister has stated that the player will remain at Al-Ittihad, blaming Nuno for his disappointing first season.
“Former coach Nuno Santo was the one who requested Jota after a letter reached the recruitment committee,” said Saudi chief Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud. “But when you contract a player you want from your budget and he does not play, this gives us the idea that there is an administrative problem that can be corrected.
“Ittihad’s management informed the player recruitment program that it does not want any new foreign player and will continue with Grohe, Kante, Jota, Benzema, Hamdallah, Coronado, Romarinho, Hegazy next season.”
