LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Ange Postecoglou, manager of Tottenham Hotspur, looks on during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on October 27, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Celtic may take advantage of the opportunity to unload a marginal player while the Brazilian transfer window is still open.
According to sources, Alexandro Bernabei is reportedly on his way to Brazil and is expected to finalise a loan move away from Celtic in the coming days.
Just eighteen months after joining the Scottish champions for £3.5 million from Lanus, Bernabei has not been able to secure consistent playing time. Only three league games hath the 23-year-old started this season; they were all earlier in the campaign due to an injury sustained by Greg Taylor, the team’s first-choice left-back.
In January, Bernabei was made available for transfer by Celtic, but at that time, nothing materialised. However, there is still time to transfer, and sources from Brazil indicate that he will likely join SC International on loan for the balance of the season. The Argentine is anticipated to land in Porto Alegre soon, and the relocation should be formally confirmed not long after.
The report also states that SC International will have the option—though not the price—to make the change permanent at the conclusion of the campaign. This implies that Bernabei’s tenure at Parkhead may end in just two years.
During his 18 months with the Hoops, the left-back made just 21 appearances, but under Ange Postecoglou, he won the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup in 2022–2023. Just one goal, against Ross County in April of last year, was scored by him.
With Bernabei gone, Celtic will be worrisomely weak at left-back, with Taylor the only obvious choice. Under Rodgers, the 26-year-old has been a constant at left defence, but another injury might provide a serious challenge in what is expected to be one of the closest championship races in recent memory.
If necessary, right-back duo Anthony Ralston and Alistair Johnston may switch to the left, and if pushed out of central defence, Liam Scales would provide a left-footed option. Celtic fell 2-0 at Hearts on Sunday and drew at home against Kilmarnock last month, dropping them to two points behind league leaders Rangers.
