IT has been 25 years since a suave Portuguese striker by the name of Jorge Cadete – with hair like spaghetti, as the famous song goes – burst onto the scene at Celtic.

Cadete may only have graced Scottish football for a short period of time, but what an impact he had (discounting of course his spell at Partick Thistle in 2004, the least said about which, the better). So much so, that he retains a place in the affections of Celtic supporters, and indeed, in the memories of football fans in his homeland too.

The reaction of Filipe Jota, Celtic’s new Portuguese winger, simply upon hearing the name is one of joy. But while he would dearly love to similarly win a place in the hearts of the Celtic faithful during his own time in Glasgow, the 22-year-old is determined to do it his own way.

“Ah Jorge Cadete!” smiled Jota. “Thirty goals in 37 games! Of course he is a big hero back home.

“He’s not been in touch but he did very well at Celtic, his statistics are amazing. I know that Celtic fans always remember him for that.

“But I don’t think about trying to be someone else. Every player has his past and I’m working every day to have my time. I want to make my own story at Celtic and be a success here myself.”

Jota’s knowledge and affection for Celtic though goes beyond the club’s association with Cadete, with the on-loan Benfica man having kept a keen eye on their fortunes over the years after an encounter with a supporter as a youngster.

“Paradise isn’t it?” he said. “Welcome to Paradise! I’m really looking forward to playing here.

“I have seen a lot of Celtic matches in the last few years against big European clubs. It was always a very good atmosphere and now I can’t wait to feel the same and to help everyone putting a smile on the Celtic fans’ faces.

“When I was younger I watched Benfica play Celtic in Lisbon. I was very young though. Since then I have seen PSG, Barcelona and these type of teams play at Celtic Park.

“I always thought there was something special about that place. Like a different atmosphere. 

“I might not be able to predict the future but watching those games I wanted to feel that atmosphere. I didn’t know if I would ever play here so now I am very happy it happens.

“It’s the best thing that could happen at this stage of my career.”

Little wonder then that there was little hesitation in making the move to Scotland once Jota was aware of Celtic’s interest.

“It was in the last week of the window,” he said. “Once I knew about it I just wanted to come. I knew it was the right place to be. I’m so happy everything got solved and now I’m here I just want to play.

“It’s the right place because of the name, the history and the things Celtic have achieved in the past and the type of football the club is playing right now. 

“It’s suits me and I just want to learn as much as possible off the coach and my team mates. To develop new skills and new ways of playing.”

That he mentions the way of playing is consistent with the musings of other new recruits at Celtic this summer, with the incoming players making it clear that the style Ange Postecoglou prefers is a draw.

“The way the manager wants to play, the way the team is set up, it’s an aggressive, dynamic mentality and he wants the team to attack and score as many goals as we can,” said Jota. “That was a big trigger for me to come here. 

“I knew the manager had a story with the national team in Australia. I had heard good things about him. I want to be ready for everything as soon as I can.

“I am here at Celtic. Things are better than perfect.

“I spoke to my friends and family. I told them it’s an amazing place and I can’t wait to bring them to Scotland to watch the games and feel the same things that I will do.”

With the international break coming directly after transfer deadline day, Celtic fans were denied the opportunity to see their new attacking threat right away, and with the form of the other supporting attacking players for Celtic, the left winger may have a job getting into the team.

Jota is relishing the competition within the squad though rather than being daunted by it, and backs himself to contribute to the cause whenever Postecoglou feels he can.

“I’m confident that I will learn with them,” he said. “I can help them and they will help me.

“At the end of the day the most important thing is to win games as a group and to win titles. The group will come out stronger, no doubt.

“I will be ready whenever the coach says so. I just want to play as soon as possible but not look too far ahead. Everything will work out.

“My experiences in the Champions League and Europa League with Benfica will help, for sure. 

“But things will be different at Celtic, we will play another type of game and I need to adapt as quickly as I can and work hard with the guys, win as much as we can.”