Celtic star Luke McCowan opens up on bizarre Jota friendship and telling Rangers-bound pal ‘that's last time we speak'

Scottish Sun

2 days ago

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
LUKE McCOWAN reckons Jota wasn't sure what to make of him at first.
The Portuguese ace has been ruled out for the rest of the year after injuring his cruciate against Dundee United in April.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
5
Luke McCowan moved to Celtic from Dundee last summer
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
5
He linked up with one of his old Hoops heroes when Jota returned in January
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
5
McCowan will face an old Dundee pal in the Old Firm next season
Credit: Willie Vass
By the time he returned to Celtic in January, McCowan had been at the club for four months.
Boyhood Hoops fan McCowan used to cheer on Jota from the stands during his first spell — but revealed his new team-mate didn't quite get his sense of humour to start with.
McCowan, 27, said: 'I think he thought I was a wee bit of a fanboy when I first came in because I was kidding on to him that I was going to get a few 'Jota 7' tops off him!
'I don't think he quite got the Scottish banter. But yeah, he's been perfect with me.
'I became good friends with Paulo Bernardo right from when I first came in. So as soon as Jota came back in, and Paulo was close with Jota, we all became friends right away.
'That's what this club creates, friendships through different countries and different cultures. It's a special place.'
The Hoops sold Jota to Al- Ittihad for £25million two years ago but after an unhappy time in Saudi Arabia he joined French side Rennes before getting the chance to return to Parkhead just after New Year.
McCowan reckons Jota quickly settled back in and lifted the lid on how everyone rallied around him as he kicked off his long and arduous road back to fitness.
He said: 'When Jota was told about the nature of the injury it was just about giving him a big hug.
'Regardless of how long it is, if it's long, if it's shorter than what it is, you just know he's a very important player for us.
Cheeky Celtic supporters hoist Irish flag at site of Scotland's new superjail
'We'll keep ensuring his mental state is always in the right place.
'He's a good and big character for us as well. He's a very lively, influential person.
'Even in the game when he got his injury, the first question he asked when the boys came in at half-time was, 'It's definitely my goal, isn't it?'.
'So I don't think he was that worried about his knee at that point. But he's been a top player for this club and I'm sure he will be in future.'
Jota's injury meant he was left to look on as the Hoops' Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen saw them miss out on a historic ninth Treble and a record- breaking third for boss Brendan Rodgers.
After the game, Celtic's players spent Saturday evening together before heading their separate ways for a summer break.
And despite the Hampden heartache, McCowan has still had a season to remember and was one of the Celtic players who did score in the shootout loss to the Dons.
Boss Rodgers claimed afterwards he was less angry and more disappointed after seeing his squad fail to hit the heights they've been capable of.
5
It was a different tone to when basement boys St Johnstone shocked them as they edged closer towards wrapping up the league title.
Back then Rodgers tore into his side for letting their standards slip.
McCowan said: 'Callum McGregor speaks about it a lot when he's doing press and I know the manager does. It's about what's expected of this club. You can't drop standards because as soon as you do that and it becomes easy enough to drop a standard for one wee thing then it can become a regular thing.
'If you don't drop a standard the first time then it doesn't become a regular occurrence.
'The manager's brilliant at it. Callum's brilliant at it. James Forrest is brilliant at it.
'All the boys in there lead by example. They are amazing at setting these standards and knowing that, all right, you might win the league but you'd better be at it in training the next day. You'd better be at it in training today.
'I think when that's the kind of level you're at, it's always about the next step.
'Even myself. I was kind of starting to relish the moment a little bit because it was going to be my first title.
'They tell me to do that but it's always about pushing on and motivating yourself to go again.'
McCowan landed his move to Parkhead after starring for Dundee, where he and Lyall Cameron shared the responsibility of bursting forwards from midfield to lead the attack.
5
But next season Cameron will become a fierce rival as far as McCowan is concerned after he agreed a pre-contract to move to Rangers this summer.
McCowan has joked his former team-mate will be getting the silent treatment from now on.
Asked if he had spoken to Cameron, 22, since everything had been agreed, McCowan grinned: 'I spoke to him when Dundee came to Celtic Park, maybe just after he'd done it.
'I said, 'Just to let you know, this will be the last time I speak to you!'.
'No, listen, Lyle is a good player. He's done well.
'If that's the move he's going to go and get it's a credit to himself because he's put a lot of hard work in.
'I saw him come through at Dundee when he was 19 and 20. I saw him go on loan to places that he probably wouldn't have wanted to go to but he just had to, so it's a credit to him.'
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page