Stiliyan Petrov spent a combined 14 years at Aston Villa and Celtic, but it is not just his own playing career that means he has divided loyalties when it comes to their Champions League meeting at Villa Park.
The former Bulgaria midfielder tells The Football News Show why his sons' allegiances could create a headache in the Petrov household on Wednesday.
Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSAston Villa manager Unai Emery says his side are facing a "fantastic coach" and "prestigious club" when they host Brendan Rodgers' Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Spaniard has won two of his three previous games against Celtic, with his PSG side winning 7-1 and 5-0 in Champions League meetings in 2017.
He also faced Celtic as manager of Spartak Moscow in 2012 when an injury-time goal from Georgios Samaras gave the Scottish side a historic first away win in the group stage.
"It doesn't matter!" Emery said when asked how those games had finished.
"Brendan is a fantastic coach, he showed here in Leicester.
"The last matches we played together was when he was at Leicester and it was always very difficult to beat the team he was managing.
"With PSG it was a different moment, we won but it was different teams."
Both sides have already secured a play-off spot in the new-look league phase and a win could still lift either of them into an automatic qualification spot, with Villa currently a point better off than Celtic and only outside the top eight on goal difference.
"Tomorrow we will respect them like they deserve and they are a winning team, their mentality is usually winning matches in their league," Emery added.
"They are going to play feeling confident and trying to face us feeling they can be close to us as well.
"I know because I respect and analyse them. They have good players and a good coach, the club is a prestigious club and the players feel they are a team to play in Europe."
We asked for your views on Kyogo Furhashi's exit and Jota's return to Celtic.
Here's what some of you said:
Paul: Jota is not the same player after leaving Celtic for Saudi Arabia, it's a backward step coming back to Parkhead, we don't need another winger at the club. The return of the prodigal son will not work out, it will be another bad piece of transfer business just like Adam Idah's permanent move from Norwich last summer, a complete and utter waste of money.
Jim: Good luck Kyogo, and thanks for your great play. I hope that Jota gets up to speed and settled in. He can be great signing for us, a great piece of business for the club, but you know what they say about players returning!
Neil: Jota signing is a great bit of business. I'm sure he will be a success. Kyogo, is a strange move. Why go to a relegation dogfight and leave a potential treble behind? A good servant but in recent times he's missed too many clear chances. Great business returning £10m.
Stephen: So sad Kyogo is away. Such a huge character to be missing from Scottish football. However, to my recollection, Jota was good domestically, but he never excelled on the European stage for Celtic. Interesting times ahead.
John: Kyogo will be a huge miss, not only his goals and his movement but his infectious personality, his enthusiasm for the game lit up the whole stadium. That has waned a little this season, obviously in his body language. We'd have bigger problems had we been totally depending on only his goals. We're not. We've scored 60 with 50 coming from other players.
Kevin: All the best to Kyogo, he was fantastic but clearly wanted to go, change of agent in the summer was a big hint, and welcome back Jota! He should be rested and raring to go. Now, Kieran Tierney and a striker please.
Celtic have bid for Sarpsborg winger Sondre Orjasaeter, 21. (Sky Sports), external
However, Celtic are set to lose on-loan Barcelona left-back Alex Valle, with the 20-year expected to join Como. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Meanwhile, Celtic have held initial talks with Odense centre-back Tobias Slotsager's representatives but are one of a number of clubs interested in the 19-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer. (Sky Sports), external
Arsenal's Scotland defender Kieran Tierney has verbally agreed to re-join Celtic. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Celtic are struggling to reach an agreement with Arsenal to take Tierney on loan, despite having reached a pre-agreement to sign the 27-year-old Scotland defender on a free transfer in the summer, as the Premier League club are short on left-back options. (TeamTalk), external
But Celtic are expected to approach Arsenal to discuss the conditions of a possible loan deal for Tierney this month. (Sky Sports), external
PAOK join Olympiacos and Panathanaikos on the trail of Celtic winger Luis Palma, 25. (Sun), external
Image source, SNSJota in Celtic training today
While not a like-for-like replacement, the blow of Kyogo Furuhashi's Celtic exit has been softened by the return of Jota.
"It's like replacing a Ferrari with a Lamborghini", as BBC broadcaster Craig Telfer deftly put it.
Will the Portuguese winger slot seamlessly back into the current Celtic side or will he have to adapt to Brendan Rodgers' style of play? Either way, it's a "good problem" for the manager to have.
The 25-year-old was a fan favourite during his first spell at the club and Telfer, presenter of A View From The Terrace, thinks that is down to the charismatic forward always having a smile on his face when he plays.
"I think Jota is an absolutely smashing signing and Kyogo going out, it's like replacing a Ferrari with a Lamborghini. It's an absolutely phenomenal signing," he told the Scottish Football Podcast.
"Jota, certainly in the last 18 months or so since leaving Celtic, has been a bit in the wilderness, I don't think his move to Saudi Arabia worked out and his move to Rennes certainly didn't work out.
"But he was a phenomenal player when playing for Celtic, the kind of player that fans like to watch, the sort of player that will take you to the edge of your seat. What I liked most about Jota, he really looked like he was enjoying himself as well.
"I think the only issue that Celtic really have is where do you play him? Because you've got obviously [Daizen] Maeda on one side of the attacking three, Nicholas Kuhn on the other, guys who are both very, very good.
"And it's where he fits into this, but it's a very, very good problem for Rodgers to have."
Image source, SNSKyogo Furhashi has thanked the Celtic support for making him feel "like the happiest player in the world" during his trophy-laden spell in Glasgow.
The Japan forward, who told manager Brendan Rodgers months ago he was eager for a fresh challenge, has joined Ligue 1 strugglers Rennes for a reported fee of £10m.
Kyogo, 30, scored 85 goals in 165 Celtic appearances and won three Premiership titles, three League Cups and two Scottish Cups.
In a farewell message released by Celtic, Kyogo said: "Over the past three-and-a-half years, I have been truly grateful for your wonderful support and cheering From the moment I joined until my final day, I've been happy every step of the way.
"Being able to enjoy so many wonderful moments and achievements with all of you made me feel like the happiest player in the world countless times. I believe these invaluable experiences were only possible because I came to Celtic.
"Even as the time goes on, I am deeply moved and encouraged by the many warm messages and kind words I continue to receive, and I cannot thank you enough. I move forward but I will keep all of you in my heart and continue on my journey.
"Lastly, I am very sorry that I couldn't say goodbye to you all, but I will give my best in my new chapter. I am confident that my wonderful Celtic team-mates, along with the manager and his backroom team will continue to create new and exciting moments for the rest of the season.
"Please continue to show your amazing support for Celtic, just as you always have. Hail hail."
Image source, SNSJota has swapped places, with striker Kyogo Furuhashi joining Rennes
Jota believes he has returned to Celtic a "more mature" person having overcome "some difficulties" with Al-Ittihad then Rennes.
The 25-year-old Portuguese winger has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract as former Celtic team-mate Kyogo Furuhashi moved in the opposite direction to the Ligue 1 strugglers.
Jota had moved to Saudi Arabia only 18 months ago in a reported £25m transfer but found game time limited with Al-Ittihad, who had signed more than their allocated number of foreign players, then after last summer's switch to France.
"I'm buzzing," he said. "It feels like home and, for me, that's something that I was aiming for. Going to Lennoxtown and training, it just felt like nostalgic, but it felt like I've never left.
"But the last year and a half felt like 10 years."
Jota pointed out that "I didn't have a lot of opportunities to play" in recent months.
"Obviously physically it's not my best moment, but that will come quickly with minutes, game time, training and I just can't wait for it," he said.
"It's choices that you make and you have to live with them and you have to go through them. So I've learned a lot of stuff.
"I've known myself in different ways and I think that's all positive because I'm much more mature."
Jota revealed that he thought he would return to Celtic one day but was not expecting it so quickly.
"It's only when you leave that then you can look back and see I had that," he added.
Image source, SNSJota wants to "bring joy" to the Celtic supporters even though "times have changed" at Parkhead.
Having left in the summer of 2023, the winger returns to Glasgow on a five-and-a-half-year deal after leaving French side Rennes where he spent the last six months following a tough spell in Saudi Arabia.
Since his last spell in Glasgow, there's a new man at the helm in Brendan Rodgers and new attacking partners to get to grips with.
"The last year-and-a-half has had its ups and downs," the 25-year-old told CelticTV.
"But that's life and that's how football is.
"I think it's a really exciting time to be working with someone who has achieved so much and who is giving so much joy and happiness to the Celtic family.
"Times have changed with new team-mates and a new coach but the idea and the path that Celtic always aims for is to go forward and it's here, it's part of the DNA.
"I just want to come and help as much as I can and to contribute to the team and achieve big things, just like in the past.
"The aim is to win matches and give joy to the fans, and in the end it's about winning titles and that's what we are here to do."
Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSAfter three-and-a-half years, 165 appearances and eight trophies, the striker many fans have hailed as the best since Henrik Larsson has ended his Celtic career.
Kyogo Furuhashi, the 5ft 7in Japan forward, was a largely unknown quantity in Scotland when he arrived in July 2021 from Vissel Kobe in the wake of Ange Postecoglou taking over as manager.
But three league titles, three League Cups and two Scottish Cups later, the 30-year-old leaves to join Rennes as a Celtic icon who captured the hearts of the support.
Kyogo scored 85 goals - 63 of them in the Premiership - and contributed 15 assists as well as creating 82 chances.
He netted 20 times in his debut campaign then came his most prolific season, scoring 34 goals in 2022-23 as Postecoglou's tenure culminated in a domestic treble. Kyogo scored 19 the following season - the joint most with Matt O'Riley - to continue his mantle as Celtic top scorer every year since he arrived.
The fans' favourite was often Celtic's man for the big occasion and thrived against Rangers. In his 17 Old Firm derbies, he netted eight and was on the winning side 10 times, losing just four.
Across his five domestic finals, Kyogo's five-goal haul included match-winning doubles against Hibs and Rangers in successive League Cup triumphs.
There were memorable moments in Europe too. Kyogo made 28 European appearances for Celtic, scoring eight goals and setting up three.
His final outing for the club was the Champions League win over Young Boys where he was denied a farewell strike - three times - with a disallowed first-half hat-trick.
Watch some of Kyogo's best Celtic goals
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSKyogo's departure to French club Rennes will undoubtedly be a blow for Celtic, but one that could be significantly softened by the return of Portuguese winger Jota.
Since leaving Glasgow's East end in July 2023 for a reported £25m, the former Benfica forward has not hit the heights expected, first at Al-Ittihad and then at Rennes.
He joined a star-studded squad in Saudi Arabia containing the likes of Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.
However, his first league start didn't come until March as Al-Ittihad finished fifth in the league.
His time at Rennes has also been unproductive. In 10 appearances, with just three of those starts, he's contributed one goal as the Brittany club struggle in Ligue 1.
He returns to Parkhead with a point to prove. His departure equalled the record fee received by Celtic until Matt O'Riley's sale to Brighton last summer, and fans will remember his time in Glasgow fondly.
Jota's 54 goal contributions - 28 goals and 26 assists - made him a pivotal part of Ange Postecoglou's team. No-one set up more goals for Celtic during his first season, and he also won three player of the month awards that campaign.
He left the club with two Premiership titles, two League Cups and a Scottish Cup to boot.
As he prepares for a second Celtic stint, it will be interesting to see what Rodgers does with the 25-year-old. Daizen Maeda is having perhaps his best season in green and white, while Nicolas Kuhn is the current front-runner for the player of the season award.
Kyogo's departure leaves a gap at the top of the pitch that one would expect Adam Idah to fill, but the Irish international - bought for a reported £9m - has endured a tough start to life as a permanent Celtic player.
Could Maeda be moved up front, to hustle and harry centre-backs rather than the men outside them? Could it be Jota or even Kuhn who perform the role of a false nine?
Or will Jota have to bide his time on the bench and wait for an opportunity to stake a claim for a starting spot? Luis Palma, Yang Hyun-Jyu and James Forrest have all had indifferent seasons so far, with Honduran winger Palma linked with a move away.
Such is the Portuguese winger's quality, he surely won't want to hang around among the subs for long.
Jota is back on the wing at Celtic Park having signed a five-and-a-half-year deal to return to Glasgow with Kyogo going in the other direction to Ligue 1 side Rennes.
The 25-year-old Portuguese attacker says he's raring to go once again in the green and white hoops. So what do you make of his return?
A recruitment masterstroke to bring him back for a fraction of the price her left for? Or do you have another view on the winger's return?
In addition, how are you feeling about Kyogo Furuhashi's exit to Rennes?
What's your favourite memory of the striker in his three-and-a-half-year spell in the Hoops?
Manager Brendan Rodgers has said he wants to sign a new striker before the transfer window closes, so who might be able to fill Kyogo's boots?
PAOK are the latest club to show an interest in Luis Palma as the winger gets set to leave Celtic with Jota poised to make an imminent £9m return. (Scottish Sun)
Former Celtic goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist is poised to join Genoa from Rapid Bucharest. (Gianluca di Marzio)
Kyogo Furuhashi's imminent exit could hand young striker Daniel Cummings his chance at Celtic. (The Herald)
Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is set to land a £12m pay-off if Tottenham decide to sack him after a miserable defeat against Leicester. (Scottish Sun)
Read the rest of Monday's gossip.
Image source, SNSFormer Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner has suggested Ange Postecoglou's departure could be part of the reason behind Kyogo Furuhashi's decision to leave.
Brendan Rodgers confirmed in a press conference during the week that Kyogo recently expressed a desire to leave Parkhead, with a move to Rennes close to completion.
The forward scored a total of 54 goals in his first two seasons for Celtic after being signed by Postecoglou. Since Rodgers' arrival he has scored 31, less than his total (34) in the 2022-23 season.
"When you step back a little bit and listen to Brendan Rodgers about him wanting away, I'm not surprised," Bonner told Sportsound.
"After Ange Postecolgou you could see a difference in the way Kyogo responded. When he first came here he lit up the place, I've not seen many strikers with his movement.
"He went off that slightly but I think he got back to it again when Celtic started to play with a mix of Ange Postecoglou, more on the front foot, more passing forward.
"I think when the change was made his head went down, you could see the frustration on the pitch.
"Then the question is, Celtic have lost their main striker. Will Adam Idah do it? Johnny Kenny? Will they go into the market or will Maeda play through the middle? There will be a lot of questions."
Celtic are set to ramp up their push to sign Mathias Kvistgaarden, but Brondby are holding out for a fee of around £13.5m for the 22-year-old striker who has netted 12 goals in 18 games this season. (Daily Record), external
Selling Kyogo Furuhashi "feels like Celtic have just put their hands up and admitted there's a ceiling on their Champions League ambitions", says the club's former striker Chris Sutton. (Daily Record), external
"Until we are sure we can't say anything, things can get complicated," says Como manager Cesc Fabregas when asked about interest in on-loan Celtic left-back Alex Valle. (Daily Record), external
Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, SNSCeltic will begin life without Kyogo Furuhashi, who left for France to finalise a move to Rennes. James Forrest (foot) remains out.
Josh Mulligan is back in the Dundee squad but the game comes too soon for Ziyad Larkeche, Jordan McGhee and Joe Shaughnessy despite their return to training.
Mexican midfielder Victor Lopez is waiting for international clearance, while Julien Vetro has been recalled by Burnley. Billy Koumetio (ankle), Antonio Portales, (hamstring), Scott Fraser (groin) and Charlie Reilly remain sidelined.
Image source, SNSBrendan Rodgers has asked Celtic fans for "time and patience" with striker Adam Idah as Kyogo Furuhashi closes on a move to Rennes.
The Republic of Ireland forward has come under fire in recent weeks having not scored since November - a 14-game barren run - following his £9m summer move from Norwich.
"I think with Adam, like it is with every other player, we have to offer them the time, the patience, the support," manager Rodgers said.
"We know the talent's there. He's already shown that in his time here. But you go through a little run of games, you don't quite score, but I thought he made an impact the other night when came on.
"That's why we have quality strikers and more than one quality striker here."
However, Rodgers confirmed Celtic will look to bring in a replacement for Kyogo before the transfer window closes.
"Obviously, if Kyogo ends up finalising his deal, we'll have to look to bring in another quality player in that position," he said.
"There can be issues around the timing, but we have been aware. It's not something that's just been sprung on us.
"We understood that we were going to lose him and we understand that we have to replace that quality to keep the team moving forward.
"That's something that has been ongoing for a little while. Hopefully, by the end of the window, we come out of the window with a stronger squad."
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSBrendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media before Celtic's game with Dundee in the Premiership on Saturday.
Here are the key points:
Rodgers says Celtic do not want to lose Kyogo Furuhashi - who is set to join Rennes - but the Japan forward expressed a desire to leave "a number of months back". The Celtic boss paid tribute to the striker, calling him an "incredible player".
Rodgers believes Kyogo's wish to move came from a desire to play in a top-five league and that the opportunity to do so at age 30 was too good to turn down.
Jota will be "an incredible addition" and Rodgers hopes to confirm the return of the Portuguese winger from Rennes "in the next 24 hours".
Given the prior warning Celtic had on Kyogo's departure, the search for his replacement has been "ongoing" and Rodgers wants to come out of the January window with "a stronger squad".
He adds that Adam Idah, like all players, needs "time, patience and support" but is happy with the striker's impact despite a recent barren run.
