It seems increasingly unlikely that Paulo Bernardo will be returning to Celtic after last season’s mainly successful loan deal.
Celtic’s non-internationalists will report back for pre-season training on Thursday with little prospect of being joined by any new faces.
Additionally Joe Hart, Bernardo and Adam Idah will be missing from the Scottish Cup winning squad with the midfielder playing a key role in Idah’s decisive goal.
Following the underwhelming recruitment of Mark Lawwell last summer Bernardo was brought in on loan from Benfica in the final week of the the transfer window with most fans understanding that it was a move similar to the initial Jota deal in 2021.
Tonight the reliable Everything Celtic Twitter account has come up with the terms that are holding up a permanent move for the midfielder.
🇵🇹 | 𝙋𝙖𝙪𝙡𝙤 𝘽𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙤 – 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙐𝙣𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙡𝙮
The pursuit of Paulo Bernardo looks like it may be coming to an end with the player earning €20K+ after tax at Benfica.
Celtic believe this salary to be in excess of what they’re willing to offer him.
[@cmjornal] pic.twitter.com/7SbE8i3qKH
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) June 24, 2024
That figure would require Celtic to be paying out £30,000 a week to match Bernardo’s current terms at Benfica, rarely will players move club and country simply to have their existing terms matched.
Bernardo has come through the ranks at Benfica but £20,000 a week after tax seems a very generous wage for someone that has never been a regular first team player.
Although he has captained the Portugal u-21 side the salary quoted seems very bloated but is likely to become a recurring issue if Celtic want to find players that will add quality to their Starting XI.
Someone costing £6m on four year contract is likely to expect at least £20,000 a week, it is believed that half of that figure was the salary ceiling for the signings made last summer.
While loading up on projects Celtic did get Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley, Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda signed up onto improved contracts. In January Cameron Carter-Vickers followed suit.
Whenever Rodgers had a full squad to pick from Bernardo was rarely a starter for Brendan Rodgers but alongside Tomoki Iwata he did offer strong back up to the preferred trio of McGregor, O’Riley and Hatate.
There will likely be further discussions between the two clubs but unless personal terms can be agreed there seems little chance of a deal being concluded.
CLICK HERE for the Bernardo’s Transfermarkt profile.
CLICK HERE for Keevins performs incredible u-turn on Rodgers as he accuses Celtic fans.
CLICK HERE for I believe the asbestos rumours are genuine- ITK Ibrox fan with fearful news.
