Paulo Bernardo

I hate to say this, and I hope I'm wrong, but he looks quite cumbersome and not the best first touch in parts of that highlights video....

 

Paulo Bernardo has been set a lofty target with his Celtic loan spell - prove yourself if you want a future at Benfica.

That's the clear mandate from club president Rui Costa who watched over as the Portuguese side negotiated a loan deal with the Scottish champions that saw Bernardo seal a deadline day move to Celtic. As part of the agreement, the attacking midfielder could be made permanent at the Hoops with an option to buy included in the contract. Bernardo followed a late flurry in the market from Brendan Rodgers after Nat Phillips and Luis Palma both arrived from Liverpool and Aris in Greece.



The 21-year-old Benfica star was not among Celtic's match day squad as they triumphed over Rangers and will hope to follow the charted path of fellow Estádio da Luz graduate Jota who ended his Celtic successful spell with a money-spinning £25million move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. For the 24-year-old, he impressed on loan initially and was then sealed on a permanent by the Scottish champions.



But for Bernardo, Benfica president Rui Costa admits he will be keeping a close eye on his spell along with other loanees but that there is a pathway for the youngster to be a regular in the Portuguese giant's squad. He told a media conference: “We believe that they can become first team players. It will be up to them to show themselves so that we can analyze whether they come back or not.”



Rodger’s explained leaving his latest signing out of the Ibrox adventure by saying: "Paulo, he’s had no football over the course of pre-season he has trained. We have to look at him. He’ll go away with the Portugal under-21 and hopefully get some game time and then come back and we’ll assess it from there.”

 

The president didn't really highlight Bernardo there, he just meant in General for Loanee's.

In fact Bernardo's the one I suspect he's not talking about, as we have a buy clause so if he does really well then he's not going back there.

Complete clickbait.

 

Not sure if it's been shared already but this latest video shows what he's about a bit more. Still looks a bit cumbersome but seems very press resistant here, great skill and a powerful runner when he gets going. Seems to have a good knack for arriving late in the box too.

I think he'll flourish here.

 

Touch of rogic about him at points in that video imo, never going to do most players for pace but still getting past them with strength and really quick close control of the ball.

 

If you play for Portugal U21, you are a technically gifted and good player, that's for sure.

 

Him and Hatate in the same team would just demoralise other SPL midfields. They'd be skinning them left right and centre.

 

Aye he looks good here. Seems to have a big stride, probably quite quick over a longer distance but just not got that burst of acceleration. Looks powerful too, barging * out the way, which is promising. Definitely feeling a lot more excited about him now having watched that.

 

Does this mean that if he plays well benfica can just take him back or do we get to decide with the option to buy? Sounds like if he impresses he’s going to stay with benfica to me by that

 

Well hopefully he has a great spell with us for the league and in europe if that's what Benfica have told him.
End of the day I'd be surprised if they keep him as they churn out so many prospects, we have a good chance to maybe keep him even if he does well.

 

If there has been an option to buy clause added to this loan then provided we meet the terms of that Benfica wouldn't be able to say no, so it would be up to the player to agree then.

 

If he does well enough here they can try to persuade him to stay, or say he'll get a bigger move elsewhere, but if we've got a loan to buy agreed then we have first option and it's up to the player if he comes here or not, Benfica can't stop him.

 

We've got an option to buy. If we want him and he wants to sign permanently, we pay Benfica the pre-agreed fee and there's not much they can do.

 

Yeah I get ye hopefully he has a good season here and enjoys it and we can make it permanent

 

Hope it turns out well and we continue to build a fine relationsship with Benfica. They have a ridiculous amount of talent to snap up and a friendly professional bond with them will make it easier. I reckon they put on decent sell on fees so win win for both.

 

They made a good chunk of jota and sooner than they ever expected. They'll be throwing players our way if that keeps up.

 

Exactly. Could be huge. Benfica are a amazing club on so many levels and to have a pick on their fringe players could be huge.

 

Talented kid, really good in tight situations and looking to attack at all times, promising

 

Could take him a few weeks to get up to speed by the sounds of it.