FORMER Celtic loan star Marcelo Saracchi has completed a £950,000 switch to Houston Dynamo.
Boca Juniors, in a club statement, confirmed the Uruguayan international left-back had sealed the move to the American club.
It read: “Marcelo Saracchi has been permanently transferred to Houston Dynamo in the MLS.
“He arrived at Boca Juniors in 2023 from Levante in Spain. The defender played a total of 52 matches and scored four goals.
“Last season he was loaned to Celtic in Scotland, where he won two trophies. We wish Marcelo Saracchi much success in this new destination.”
The reliable defender, 28, arrived on a temporary season-long deal at Parkhead as back-up to returning hero Kieran Tierney who ended his six-year exile at Arsenal to sign a five-year contract.
ON THE BALL…the impressive Marcelo Saracchi in action.
Saracchi made 27 appearances for the Hoops, with his last outing coming as a late substitute for Tierney in Martin O’Neill’s side’s 3-1 victory in the Scottish Cup Final over Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline at Hampden on May 23.
He had also played a crucial role in the 3-1 title-winning triumph over Hearts at Parkhead the previous weekend after coming on in the 73rd minute for the World Cup Finals-bound Scot.
With the clock ticking down, the score deadlocked at 1-1 and the championship heading for Edinburgh, Saracchi opened up the visitors’ rearguard with a probing pass that found Callum Osmand running into space on the left-hand side of the box.
The youngster whipped in a low cross and Daizen Maeda raced in to touch the ball over the diving Alexander Schwolow with a mere three minutes to go.
Osmand rolled in the third in stoppage-time and the rest is glorious history.
It was anticipated the Hoops hierarchy would attempt to bring back the popular player on a permanent basis, but such a move never materialised and Saracchi is now looking forward to continuing his career in The States.
He also scored a crucial league goal in the dramatic 2-1 victory over Livingston at Parkhead in February when debutant Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain netted the stoppage-time winner.
Ironically, the former Arsenal, Liverpool and England midfielder did get the offer of a one-year extension which he signed.
THE LAST HURRAH…Marcelo Saracchi (bottom right) and Kelechi Iheanacho sit it out as Celtic celebrate the 3-1 Scottish Cup win over Dunfermline at Hampden.
As CQN reported last month, Saracchi took to Instagram to convey his heartfelt farewell as he said: “Dear Celtic fans, I’m writing this to say goodbye.
“We had an intense, beautiful year together where we achieved so many of our goals.
“My agent and I did absolutely everything within our power to make a return to Glasgow happen.
“I’m truly gutted that I won’t be able to continue at the club at this stage of my career. However, I know our paths will cross again in the future.
“I wish you all nothing but the best for what’s ahead.
“Thank you for everything.”
WANT TO KNOW A SECRET? Celtic Confidential is the stunning book that brings the exclusive inside stories behind the headlines. Who was the tycoon who would have ruined Celtic? What really happened the night Kenny Dalglish quit the club? The real story behind Mo Johnston’s sensational move to Ibrox. All is revealed in Alex Gordon’s sixteenth Celtic book which is available NOW. Order a copy and get £5 OFF the cover price of £25. Just click SHOP HERE and your book will be on its way. Enjoy the revelations!
