Alexandro Bernabei’s latest stunning display for loan club Internacional blew away one South American journalist so much that he wanted the Argentinian called up… for BRAZIL!
The Celtic full back is rebuilding his career after failing to make it at Parkhead. Bernabei, 24, was brought to Parkhead by Ange Postecoglou for £3.8million from Argentine club Lanus in July 2022 and made 19 appearances in all competitions in his first season.
However the former Argentina U23 international fell out of favour under the Aussie’s successor Brendan Rodgers, and returned to South America in a loan deal until the end of 2024 back in March. The wing-back has recaptured his form in Brazil with Internacional, registering three goals and three assists in 20 matches, with some reports in his homeland tipping him for a shock call-up to Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina squad.
But one observer at his latest outing on Friday night where he helped Internacional to a 2-0 win over Fluminense clearly wasn’t aware of his nationality. Respected South American-based English journalist Tim Vickery wrote on X: “Celtic fans might be interested to know that Bernabei is proving a sensation in Brazil with Internacional. One journo – unaware that he is Argentine – even wanted him to be called up by Brazil.”
One Celtic fan asked: “In an attacking sense or defensively?” to which he replied: “Very attacking – two assists in a 2-0 win. Brazilian media say Celtic want more than £8m to sell Bernabei. His loan deal expires when the Brazilian season ends in December this year and Portal do Colorado claim Internacional want to keep him – but there’s a catch.
They say Celtic want as much as €10m (£8.3m), which has effectively priced them out and forced them to look at alternative options. Internacional’s executive director Andre Mazzuco recognises that the finances involved might make a permanent deal for Bernabei difficult but insists they are trying to reach an agreement with Celtic.