Talks Underway with Celtic for Permanent Bernabei Exit

Brazilian club Internacional has expressed strong interest in keeping Celtic defender Alexandro Bernabei beyond the end of his current loan, which concludes at the end of the year.

The club’s president, Alessandro Barcellos, has confirmed that talks are underway with Celtic and Bernabei’s representatives to explore options for the Argentine’s future, whether through a loan extension or a permanent transfer.

Club president Alessandro Barcellos told Radio Gaucha: “Bernabei is on loan with the club until the end of the year. We still need to work with the club that owns his rights to buy him or extend the loan, whatever the possible strategy.

“We have already started talks with the player’s agent, who has expressed an interest in staying, which is important in the process. We hope to have a favourable outcome, but this will only happen towards the end of the year.

“Our idea is to keep Bernabei, as he increases in value with each Game that passes. He is a player who has earned his space, conquered it, and maintained it, and today he is a very important performer for our team.”

After a difficult spell at Celtic, where he struggled to make an impact—managing just 16 starts, with only four under Brendan Rodgers—Bernabei has rediscovered his form at Internacional. His recent performances, including a deflected long-range goal over the weekend, have cemented his value to the Brazilian side.

Internacional sees Bernabei as an important part of their squad moving forward, and Barcellos stressed the importance of securing his services. The club is now focused on negotiating with Celtic to either purchase Bernabei outright or arrange an extended loan, with both parties expressing mutual interest in continuing the partnership.

With the transfer window approaching, the discussions between the clubs and Bernabei’s agent will be key to determining whether he stays in Brazil or returns to Scotland.

Celtic have Greg Taylor and Alex Valle on their books, so a return to the Celtic squad does seem unlikely.