Why Celtic's Bernabei is thriving in Brazil at Internacional

Cast your collective minds back to the summer of 2022. Celtic had won the domestic double under Ange Postecoglou, while work was well underway to bolster the squad ahead of the Australian’s second season in charge of the club. Benjamin Siegrist and Cameron Carter-Vickers had been signed up to permanent deals, while Jota’s return looked all but certain despite his very public post-season travelling. Indeed, Argentina U23 Bernabei became Postecoglou’s third acquisition of the window, joining the club from Club Atletico Lanus in his homeland on a five-year deal.

Despite the supporters’ collective excitement over the arrival of Bernabei, the full-back failed to make a sustained impact on the side in the two years that followed. A mixed bag of performances, coupled with disciplinary issues off the pitch left both Postecoglou and the returning Brendan Rodgers to look elsewhere for left-back options, as the young defender struggled to adapt to life in Scotland at Celtic.

In March, Bernabei moved out on loan to Brazilian top-flight club Internacional until the end of the year in pursuit of first-team game-time, which has proved extremely beneficial for all parties. In light of this, The Celtic Way’s Ryan McGinlay analyses Bernabei’s best moments so far in Brazil, as negotiations get set to commence concerning the player’s potential departure from his parent club permanently in the coming months...

The basics

Before getting into individual highlights from Bernabei, let’s have a look at his stats this season for Internacional. The left-back has played 21 games in all competitions for his loan side, scoring three goals and assisting a further four for his teammates. Although predominantly used as a full-back, he has been deployed as a winger on occasion – he is not a player known for his defensive capabilities, rather, the opposite.

Averaging 89.6 minutes per match, Bernabei has been an ever-present for Roger Machado’s side this campaign since breaking into the team. Funnily enough, his manager played as a left-back himself, even getting a cap for the national side back in 2001 while playing for Gremio. Starting games of football will no doubt be beneficial for the player – a luxury he was not afforded often back home in Glasgow – particularly under Rodgers.

Goals

Goal vs Juventude (A)

Despite only scoring one competitive goal for Celtic in his 21 months at the club, Bernabei has managed to find the back of the net three times at left-back since moving back in March. His first would come against Juventude away from home back in September, during Internacional’s 3-1 away win in the Brazilian Serie A.

Look at Bernabei’s position at the start of this move. Just inside the opponent’s half, the full-back bombed forward in order to offer an option to his opponent, who was just ahead of him in possession of the ball. Bernabei thrives on chaos and was looking to make a nuisance of himself by adding more fuel to Internacional’s attacking fire on the break – late runs are his forte, it would seem. 

In just a few seconds, the left-back had managed to make his way into the home side’s box, yet the same attacker in possession had not found his teammate yet with a pass. What happened next was fortuitous, though the defender must be credited with partially allowing this to transpire due to being in and around the danger area. Bernabei’s teammate passed the ball, which deflected off of the Juventude centre-back and into the path of the left-back. All of a sudden, Bernabei was through on goal…

Though under pressure due to his marker in the box, Bernabei managed to strike the ball with precision past the Juventude keeper in the opposition net. A good finish from the left-back, as his duck had been broken on the goalscoring front for his new club.

Goal vs Corinthians (A)

Bernabei’s next converted strike would come against Corinthians – again, away from home. Keeping with recent tradition, this goal started thanks to a late run into a dangerous area – a tactic that these Brazilian Serie A sides seem to be struggling to cope with.

Unmarked, Bernabei was given the freedom to run into an empty space just outside the box in the lead-up to this goal. The credit must be given to his teammate, as he lifted his head and spotted the defender running into the vacated space. Playing the pass into the path of the attack-minded full-back, Corinthians were in danger.

What happened next is another example of the “don’t buy a ticket, won’t win the lottery” mentality in action with regard to Bernabei. Despite the option of passing to his left-sided teammate, he decided to strike the ball with venom, though it was blocked by the Corinthians defender. Unfortunately for the centre-back and his goalkeeper, the strike was a strong one, which looped up into the air and freakishly found its way into the back of the home side’s net.

Fortuitous but fearless, Bernabei got his side back on level terms in first-half stoppage time in the Brazilian league.

Goal vs Atletico Mineiro (A)

An away goal? Tick. A Bernabei run from deep? Tick.

The left-back was at it again, though this goal was probably his best concerning movement, footballing IQ and the finish – a resounding one at that.

The first still from this goal shows how much ground Bernabei had to make up to provide an option for his striker – Rafael Santos Borre – who had done well to bring the ball up the pitch to a dangerous position.

A couple of seconds later, Bernabei had gotten himself into a prime position out on the left wing. By this point, his attacker has occupied three or four defenders, causing them to go out of position in order to reclaim the ball – albeit unsuccessfully. With plenty of space to run into and the pace to get there, Bernabei potentially had a clear run at goal, depending on the delivery from his teammate. Thankfully, the pass was a good one…

Bernabei received the ball from his fellow Internacional teammate and struck it first time with the side of his foot. The shot was a good one, and left the Mineiro goalkeeper with no chance of getting anywhere near it. A well-worked goal by all involved, as the Celtic loanee stole the show once again in an attacking sense.

Assists

Assist vs Red Bull Bragantino (A)

Bernabei’s first assist for Internacional was reminiscent of a couple of deliveries that he conjured up for Celtic - especially alongside Giorgos Giakoumakis.

From watching Internacional through these goal contributions from the on-loan Celtic player, it is clear that the side plays a decent brand of attacking and expansive football – one which is pleasing to the eye. 

Though Bernabei’s assist for this headed goal was a good one, a lot of the credit must be attributed to his teammate for the intricate backheel that allowed for the player to loft the ball into the box. From the still, you can see that his teammate’s skill move has taken not just his own but Bernabei’s marker out of the game, leaving the left-back with acres of space to run into as an attacking threat. As he has shown for both Lanus and Celtic in the past, this area is where Bernabei thrives…

With the freedom of Bragantino’s half to work with, Bernabei fired in a looping cross with pace directly in the area of his striker Borre, who had his head up in anticipation of the delivery. It was bang on the money, leading to his first assist for his temporary employers.

A ball that was begging to be attacked, Borre’s header only needed direction, as he directed the pacey cross into the back of his opponent’s net.

Assist vs Atletico Mineiro (A)

This assist would display Bernabei’s alertness in a game, as he would profit on a mistake from the home side’s defender. 

Following a pass that the defender had to chase, the Mineiro man stumbled, leading to Bernabei challenging for the loose ball just outside the opposition’s box. The short Argentinian was strong in his convictions, as his tenacity allowed for the ball to break in his favour following the slip from the Mineiro player in a dangerous area.

Now in possession, Bernabei had options both to his right. Amazingly, he decided to go for the more difficult pass to the player just inside the box rather than a couple of yards away, which prompted the receiver to take the shot on. To be fair to the attacker, he did well under pressure, as he converted the opportunity, which led to Bernabei claiming another assist for Internacional.

Assist vs Fluminense (H)

This move would begin in a place where Bernabei feels comfortable– on the attack. Indeed, his teammate had spotted the Argentinian’s run on the left wing, though an accurate and well-timed through-ball was required in order to continue this move. The Celtic loanee was hugging the touchline – he needed no second invitation to get forward and join his side’s attack when called upon, after all. 

Although not visible in the still, Bernabei’s receiver was on the move to get on the end of his cut-back cross, which was delivered into a dangerous area for the player to run onto. By keeping the ball in play at the very edge of the byline, the left-back managed to fire in a low cross to his teammate, who finished well at the first time of asking.

At the time of writing, this remains Bernabei’s most recent goal contribution, but a good one at that. It is little surprise to hear that his current side wants to keep him at the club, given his attacking influence on this side at the moment.

Final thoughts

It is important to underline the fact that Bernabei realistically has no future at his parent club. However, it is just as important to underline that he is doing very well out on loan at Internacional, also.

If a fee can be agreed between the two relevant parties, then this could be a win-win for all involved in the player’s movements. It has not worked out at Celtic, but that doesn’t mean that it cannot work elsewhere for the clearly-talented Bernabei.

A disappointing signing, given the circumstances and excitement, but one that might end up making Celtic money in the long run, amazingly.