On Monday morning, Celtic confirmed transfer news that many fans had anticipated and won’t find surprising.
Alexandro Bernabei has completed a permanent move to Internacional after spending time on loan with the Brazilian giants, following his fall down the pecking order at Celtic.
The 24-year-old originally joined Celtic in 2022 from Club Atlético Lanús during Ange Postecoglou’s tenure but struggled to establish himself.
Despite Celtic’s achievements under Postecoglou, and Brendan Rodgers securing a domestic double upon his return, Bernabei never managed to deliver his best form in a Celtic shirt. As a result, his departure felt inevitable.
Greg Taylor remained the club’s undisputed starter at left-back, with little competition, until Rodgers brought in Spanish prospect Alex Valle on loan from Barcelona this summer.
This move effectively paved the way for Bernabei to return to South America on loan, and his time with Internacional has been productive.
Alexandro Bernabei delighted after leaving Celtic for Internacional:
This transfer appears to benefit all parties involved. Celtic have reportedly turned a profit on Bernabei’s sale to Internacional, following his £5 million arrival, as noted by Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph on Twitter.
Reacting to the move, Bernabei shared his thoughts on Instagram, expressing his happiness.
“Happy to belong to such a great club,” wrote Bernabei, alongside a picture of himself smiling.
Bernabei’s performances for Celtic and Internacional:
While Bernabei has found his footing in Brazil’s top league this season—earning a WhoScored rating of 7.34 for his displays—it was clear that his performances at Celtic didn’t meet expectations.
With Bernabei’s departure and speculation surrounding Valle’s loan potentially ending early, the path is clearer than ever for the signing that Celtic fans have been eagerly hoping for—Kieran Tierney’s return.
If that deal materializes, it could significantly bolster the left-back position and elevate the team’s depth and quality in that area.