ALEXANDRO BERNABEI’S loan deal with Brazilian side SC Nacional has just over five weeks to run.
The Argentinian left-back, a rare transfer backfire by Ange Postecoglou, quit Celtic in a temporary switch in March after failing to settle at the champions following his £3.75million arrival from Lanus in July 2022.
Bernabei, 24, is under contract at Parkhead until the summer of 2027 and is now due to return on Christmas Eve.
Clearly, there is no future for the player in Glasgow and Brendan Rodgers allowed him to leave at a crucial stage last season when he had no cover in the No.3 position for Greg Taylor.
A BIG HIT…a rare Celtic highlight for Alexandro Bernabei as he thumps in a left-foot drive in the champions’ 2-0 league win over Ross County in Dingwall in April 2023.
Bernabei, though, has had a new lease of life with the Brazilian club and has scored three goals in recent months sparking tales the top-tier side are eager to make the move permanent.
The snag will be the Hoops hierarchy’s asking price which has been quoted at £8million, but the South American outfit will be hard pressed to meet that valuation, as CQN pointed out last month.
Reports also suggest team chiefs from the South American team are due in Europe to have recruitment meetings with several clubs, including Celtic.
SC Nacional’s highest transfer outlay in recent times is the £5.5million they paid for Colombian international striker Rafael Borre from Eintracht Frankfurt last season.
If a permanent deal can not be struck, the Hoops could be open to another loan switch for Bernabei who obviously does not figure in Rodgers’ plans.
