Jota mystery explained as Celtic hero sparks Rennes civl war with 's***' transfer rinsed by supremo amid fan protest

The winger is in midst of more career turmoil in Ligue 1

Under-fire Jorge Sampaoli has insisted that Jota is injured and has not been frozen out amid rising pressure at Stade Rennes.

The rumour mill is in overdrive as the former Celtic winger faces a massive decision on his future having dropped down the pecking order at the club following the arrival of Sampaoli in November - who has publicly criticised the fitness levels of the 25-year-old. Reports in France have claimed that the former Hoops hero is on a shortlist of players who could be moved on by the Ligue 1 club in this window - just six months after he ended his nightmare spell with Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.

However, the call to freeze out the wide man and rigidly stick to his system has sparked criticism of Sampaoli with the club plummeting down the table. Defeat to Brest leave the club just a point off the relegation zone - with fans booing the team off before staging a protest outside of Roazhon Park at full-time.

On the furious response of the punters, Sampaoli said: "I understand them. They have the right to protest, especially in the position we are in in the standings. What I can say is that I am trying every day to try to change the situation."

He was then put on the spot about the future of Jota - with murmurs over a potential return to the Premiership leaders refusing to go away: "Jota? He has an adductor muscle problem and we'd like him to return quickly."

But club president Arnaud Pouille was less forgiving of Jota and the players signed in the summer recruitment drive. Addressing the supporter anger, he admitted to Ouest-France: "We are in a largely unacceptable situation, and we have to take the bull by the horns.

"I have a feeling of shame. Some of our new players are playing really s*** at the moment and must understand that they are in a club that is going to be 124 years old, that there is a jersey to wear and that we must not spit on it. If the players have not understood that there is a state of emergency, they must understand it quickly. "

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