ALEXANDRO BERNABEI’S loan deal with SC Nacional expires on Christmas Eve.
Six days’ time will see the moment of truth for the Celtic left-back who flopped at Parkhead after his £3.75million arrival from Argentina in July 2022 – but has excelled in Brazil since moving in March on a temporary transfer.
Bernabei, a rare transfer backfire by Ange Postecoglou, failed to impress Brendan Rodgers during the Irishman’s Hoops comeback season and was allowed to move on despite the champions lacking cover for Greg Taylor in the No.3 position.
The 24-year-old attack-minded defender is under contract at Parkhead until the summer of 2027, but clearly there is no future for the international in Scotland.
NOW YOU SEE ME…Alexandro Bernabei in action in Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie in February – a month later he was in Brazil with SC Nacional.
Bernabei has undergone a remarkable transformation in fortunes and has even chipped in with three goals in an overall eye-catching term at the Porto Allegre club.
His form saw his value rocket into the £8million bracket, but, as as CQN pointed out in October, there was little chance of Nacional meeting that evaluation.
The price has been ‘modified’ to £4.2million, but, that, too, could prove to be too steep for a club whose most expensive purchase in recent times was the £5.5million they paid for Colombian international striker Rafael Borre from Eintracht Frankfurt last year.
As far as Bernabei’s future is concerned, we are now getting down to the nitty gritty and a decision is likely to be thrashed out next month.
Another loan could be agreed, but there is the added complication of the 2025 Brazilian League season not kicking off until March 29.
The club may prefer to remove the player from the wage roll before recalling him.
That will not suit Celtic who will not want Bernabei at the club with no likelihood of getting a game. It could lead to a third drop in the asking price to see the misfit leave on a permanent basis.
