It seems that Celtic’s left-back, Alexandro Bernabei, has been loaned out to SC Internacional in the Brazilian top-flight, as he fell out of favor under manager Brendan Rodgers. Despite the closure of the transfer window, Celtic managed to arrange this move for Bernabei to secure regular playing time elsewhere.
Bernabei’s departure from Celtic comes as a result of his inability to convince Rodgers of his suitability as a first-choice defender, particularly in competition with Greg Taylor. With Taylor occupying the first-choice left-back position, Bernabei found himself sidelined and seeking opportunities elsewhere to maintain his match fitness and development.
The loan move to SC Internacional provides Bernabei with the chance to feature regularly and potentially reignite his career in a new environment. It also allows Celtic to free up space in their squad and potentially explore other options for the left-back position in the future.
It appears that Alexandro Bernabei’s stint at Celtic has been underwhelming, prompting his loan move back to South America. Analyzing his performances this season reveals some concerning statistics that highlight his struggles on the pitch.
Bernabei, who joined Celtic from Lanus for a reported fee of £3.75 million in 2022, only managed to make eight appearances in the Scottish Premiership this season. Among those appearances, he started in only three matches, indicating a lack of trust from manager Brendan Rodgers to consistently feature him in the starting lineup.
In terms of his defensive contributions, Bernabei’s performance was notably weak. He lost 53% of his duels, including a concerning 67% of his aerial contests, across the eight matches he played. Additionally, he was dribbled past an average of 0.6 times per match, further highlighting his struggles to contain opposition attackers and maintain defensive solidity.
These statistics paint a picture of Bernabei’s difficulties adapting to the demands of Scottish football and fulfilling the expectations placed upon him at Celtic. Given his struggles and limited impact, it’s understandable why there’s speculation about his potential replacement within the squad, with promising B team star Mitchel Frame emerging as a candidate to fill the void left by Bernabei’s departure.
| 23/24 Champions League | |
|---|---|
| Mitchel Frame | Against Feyenoord |
| Minutes played | 15 |
| Passes completed | 2/3 |
| Duel success rate | 67% (2/3) |
| Tackles won | 2 |
| Crosses | 2 |
| Stats via Sofascore | |
Celtic managed to keep hold of the teenage defender and, as you can see in the table above, he made his first-team debut for the Hoops in the Champions League this season and won 67% of his duels – suggesting that the Scottish ace could offer more physicality than the Argentine flop.
That is his only senior appearance for the club to date and Bernabei’s exit on loan could open the door for more opportunities with Rodgers’ squad between now and the end of the season.
The Northern Irish head coach does not have any other natural left-back options to compete with Taylor and must now, after his bright Champions League cameo, provide Frame with a chance to impress in the Premiership.
He could then unearth a dream replacement for Bernabei as the 18-year-old B team gem would come through the academy without costing the Hoops a penny in transfer fees.
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