He has arrived for a fee of £3.75 million - but Alexandro Bernabei could go on to become a £20 million man and an Argentina international over his stint at Celtic.
The Hoops made history last week when they officially confirmed the 21-year-old had signed from boyhood club Lanus. He is the club's first-ever Argentinian and will compete with Scotland international Greg Taylor for the left-back role in boss Ange Postecoglou's starting XI. It's set to be a big season at Parkhead with a Premiership title defence to be had alongside Champions League group stage football.
Bernabei broke into the Lanus team pre-pandemic and made 87 appearances for them. Capped by his country at youth level, Argentine football commentator and Golazo Argentino editor Peter Coates believes it's a smart choice by the Hoops. He believes that the attack-minded player will be going to Glasgow looking to use it as a platform for international recognition.
It might not come in time for the World Cup in Qatar later this year due to Nicolas Tagliafico and Marcos Acuna's placement at left-back, but it could come in the next year.
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He exclusively told Glasgow Live Sport : "Lanus are a neighbourhood club who are certainly not considered one of the big Argentinian teams. They have done well in the last few years and a lot of that is based on them having a very good academy.
"Bernabei is one of the players to come through. You look at a lot of the Argentine youth teams now and they all seem to have a few Lanus players in there.
"He's off it in terms of getting into it for this World Cup as barring any injuries, the Argentinian squad looks settled. I would be surprised that if he doesn't go with Tagliafico and Acuna. They are both getting on a bit though.
"So I wouldn't be surprised if post-World Cup, they are actively looking at who the next left-back is to bring them into the squad. I certainly think Bernabei is in that group - even before the Celtic move - they will have been actively looking at.
"He was a standout in a Lanus side that was struggling a little bit and he as the attributes in a modern full-back they like. I wouldn't be surprised if he is linked with the Argentina national team if he starts his Celtic career well."
A change in playing style awaits Bernabei. He's not been in a team which dominates possession like Celtic do domestically before and Coates reckons he is more than capable of answering his defensive critics.
The South American football expert explained: "He came into the team in late 2019 and was initially being played higher up the pitch. He was more played as a left-winger but quickly established himself in the team.
"He dropped back and started playing at left-back. But he has always maintained that winger's mentality. As soon as he gets into the game, his instinct is to head up the the flank. That's whether he goes to get crosses in or coming inside and almost joining the midfield.
"In that sense, with what Ange wants his full-back players to do, it seems a good fit. They want a full-back who can press from the front and have flexibility to come inside. Lanus aren't a team who have had possession the way Celtic do in most of their league games.
"It's where some of the questions marks hang. In the games where he is required to do more defending. It's the one question mark for him at this stage in his career, how good is he defensively, when Celtic are playing in Europe against tougher opponents? That will be the big test for him."
With Champions League football on the horizon, Coates believes it's a huge step for Bernabei. Given the modest fee in today's terms Celtic have paid for him, he expects the defender valuation to soar.
Coates added: "I think it's a really clever move and if it proves successful, I think we will see it a lot more. A lot of smart teams are coming to scout South America as they see the bargains that can be had.
"Bernabei is 21, a former youth international with good experience, and a big upside in terms of his technical ability. It's a relatively small fee Celtic have paid for a European club but it's money that is hard to turn down for a South American club.
"It could be a bit of a bargain. Celtic will probably look at the guy, and if it doesn't work out, it's not a critical blow to the accounts. But if he works, he's the kind of age where he could be sold in a couple of years for £20 million.
"That's a huge profit and if they do end up with that he's obviously contributed very well to the first team. I think the poor economy and clubs struggling financially across the board means they are very open to these deals."
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