Paulo Bernardo

Has been a different player the last 2 weeks, before that I was genuinely toiling to tell you his attributes he just seemed to be there.

i’d take his option up on this form but don’t want him to be thought of as an O’Riley replacement if and when he leaves in 6 months.

 

People seem to forget he's 2 years younger than O'Riley. O'Riley has developed here for 2 years now, he never started off then the way he is now, he's fitter, sharper, probably more well rounded and added goals and more assists probably the more confident and bedded in he's got.

Bernardo has started off similar to O'Riley from 2 years ago and has similar qualites about him being technical, good defensively already scoring and creating in little game time.

 

With the prospect of key departures in midfield in the summer, get him signed

 

Paulo Bernardo has a £6million release clause in his Benfica contract, sources have toldFootball Scotland.

The midfielder has enjoyed his loan spell at Celtic and has an option to move to the Parkhead club permanently when that runs out at the end of the season. There is no obligation purchase for the Hoops upon the end of his deal but Hoops hierarchy are believed to be happy with what they've seen from the Portuguese who has managed 15 appearances so far in green and white



Football Scotland understands there has been no concrete agreed upon number between Celtic and his parent club on the expected fee but the built-in agreement with the 21-year-old on his initial Benfica contract is €7million.


That leaves wiggle room for a negotiation this month or towards the end of the season for Celts to potentially hammer down that number should Brendan Rodgers look to keep him in Glasgow.


He scored his first goal for the club against Dundee last week before adding to that tally against Rangers.

Bernardo has also put in strong shifts in the Champions League and provides an alternative option to the likes of David Turnbull, Reo Hatate and Matt O'Riley beside captain Callum McGregor.

 

I wouldn’t say slow, wouldn’t say quick either. Similar to O’Riley with that, last year Mooy who was definitely slow but had exceptional positioning when Hatate wasn’t playing it was very lethargic. Him and O’Riley, with Calmac in behind looks as fast paced as we’ve seen all season. They aren’t pacey, but they have enough pace couple with positioning and movement, that it keeps a high tempo off the ball.


The ability on the ball the two have and reading of the game makes it the highest tempo on the ball. Both have also started to fill in at DM if McGregor decides to drive forward, don’t know if thats just down to BR’s style starting to click or it’s something we’ve worked on.

 

Revealed, I’m sure this was said soon as he signed I had £6m in my head anyway

 

If he continues to perform and we do sign him. I hope lawell and co don’t * benfica about trying to haggle it down from £6m like that article says is possible. If they keep sending us kids on loan for that fee we’re in the money!

 

The article says there is possible wriggle room, it doesn't say we plan on actually doing that.

 

Experience tells us that even if we think £6m is a bargain, if we think there’s wiggle room to squeeze the deal, we’ll take that opportunity.

 

Buzzing like * to watch how it unfolds with him and Matt in front of Cal rest of this season. Genuinely think we could be looking at one of, if not thee, best midfield in my lifetime.

If it goes the way I think it will, we're goanny be cursing the timing as no doubt Matt will be off in the summer and we won't get to see them together in the CL.

 

Thry started 3 games together in the CL

 

I know this, but that was before Bernardo was able to settle into his rhythm. Am talking about now they, especially Bernardo and O'Riley, have clicked properly and look like being a proper force.

 

but it doesn't even say we think there is. It's just a phrase being used by a website.

 

Fingers crossed, either dish out the dough or not. I’d rather not try and argue it down to £5.75m then lose out on him over it, if we think we can.

 

If it's stipulated in his contract that he can leave for £6mil, you'd assume that's basically a minimum fee release clause. So how is there wriggle room? Doesn't make sense to me.

 

Think there was with the Jota deal, which took a while to get over the line and a hefty sell on fee in the end up

 

Reo is a better midfielder than Bernardo.

Bernardo has looked good but let’s not
Kid ourselves he’s played a handful of very good games but if he was a baller he would
have made that 3rd midfield spot a lot sooner than he has.

 

OK so it's fairly normal practice then, I don't see what there is to worry about. Benfica did pretty well out of the Jota deal after his move to Saudi, so I'd expect any negotiations over Bernardo to be pretty smooth, as both clubs have already established a working relationship. Suits both parties to come and go with any deals.

 

Upto Reo to prove that now though.

He was the one BR turned to in the CL, our hardest opponents we’ll face, so he must have thought he was good enough for the 3rd spot, whilst not playing him domestically. * odd behaviour woth him this year.


His first opportunity for a run of games he’s been excellent though

 

I don’t think we had a specific agreed price with Jota.

I’d rather if we think he’s worth £6m, pay it and don’t * about