Forgotten Celtic star ‘proving a sensation’ at loan club amid talk of £8m fee and national call-up to the incorrect national team.
Before slipping out of the starting lineup under Brendan Rodgers last season, the 24-year-old left-back made 28 appearances for the Hoops after moving to Parkhead for £3.8 million from Lanus in his native country in July 2022. After being sent out on loan to Internacional in March for a contract that expires in January 2025, he has returned to his best in the Brazilian top division, scoring three goals and dishing out three assists in 20 games while receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews.
Even though Bernabei has no ties to Brazil and has played for Argentina at the Under-23 level in the past, there were even calls for him to be called up to the Brazil squad after he excelled in Friday’s 2-0 victory over Fluminese. BBC Sport’s South American football correspondent Tim Vickery said on X: “Celtic supporters may find it interesting to learn that Bernabei is making waves with Internacional in Brazil. Unaware that he is Argentine, one journalist even wished for Brazil to call him up. One Celtics supporter asked Vickery if he was praised for his attacking or defensive efforts, to which he responded, “Very attacking – 2 assists tonight in a 2-0 win.”
While a call-up for Brazil is clearly out of the question, Bernabei is believed to be on the radar of Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni, according to reports in his homeland.
Brazilian media also state that Internacional want to keep the full-back beyond the end of his loan deal but claim they are being priced out of a permanent move after Celtic set an £8m asking price. Internacional president Alessandro Barcellos has described the fee as “unaffordable” and will instead try to extend the player’s loan for another year. Bernabei is under contract at Celtic until the summer of 2027.
