Bernabei may return to Celtic but it doesn’t mean he’ll stay … or that this makes him a failure.

One of the issues Brendan Rodgers addressed yesterday was the future of Alexandro Bernabei, and I found his comments on the matter particularly interesting.

There’s a school of thought that says if a club is prepared to pay a significant fee for a Celtic player who isn’t getting regular game time, then maybe that player should be playing more often. It’s an understandable perspective, but also a flawed one.

From the outset, I had my doubts about Bernabei’s signing. This had nothing to do with Mark Lawwell being involved but more with the cultural and footballing challenges faced by players coming from South and Central America to Britain.

These concerns were fully realised last summer.

It’s well-documented how difficult it is for players from those regions to transition to football in the UK. The barriers are immense: a completely different playing style, language barriers, weather, and even the pitches. Moving to a foreign country is tough enough, but adapting to the drastic changes involved in coming from Latin America to Scotland?

That’s a monumental challenge.

Imagine transitioning from a warm, sunny climate to a cold, windswept night in Perth or arriving at Lennoxtown in January for your first training session. The temptation to jump on the first plane home must be enormous. While some players eventually acclimatise, it’s not for everyone, and I can’t overstate how daunting it must be.

Historically, these signings rarely work when players come directly from those leagues. If a player has already spent time in Europe—getting used to the climate, culture, and playing style—their chances of success increase significantly. Without that experience, though, it’s an uphill battle.

Our club, and others in Scotland, have tried it before, but I can’t recall a single unqualified success. There may be examples, but they’re rare.

So why did we sign Bernabei? It’s hard to say.

This transfer had red flags from the start. South and Central American players often thrive when they first go to countries like Spain or Portugal, where the style and climate are more familiar. After a few years, a move to a club like Celtic would make more sense. Had Bernabei followed that path, I wouldn’t have had any concerns about the deal.

Adding to the complexity is the managerial shift. Bernabei was signed under Ange Postecoglou, and even if he fit Ange’s system, there was no guarantee he’d fit Brendan Rodgers’ plans. Football systems dictate player roles, not the other way around. A good player in the wrong system will always struggle.

Bernabei’s strengths—his contributions in the final third—made him sound more like a winger than a left-back, almost a James Tavernier type. But defending seemed to be a secondary skill, which isn’t what Celtic typically needs in that position. While he may be a solid player, he simply hasn’t been the right fit for what we’re trying to do.

It’s no surprise that he’s done well since returning to Latin America. Perhaps he needed more time there to develop before making the leap to Europe. A move to Spain or Portugal before Scotland might have yielded a completely different outcome. By the time he came to Celtic, he would’ve been better prepared for the challenges he faced.

When Rodgers was asked about Bernabei, his response was diplomatic. He praised the player’s performances while on loan and said decisions about his future would be made when he returns. But I suspect Rodgers already knows the writing is on the wall. The best outcome for all parties is likely to move Bernabei on to a club where he can thrive, as he’s unlikely to fit Celtic’s system, the league, or even the cultural environment at this stage.

What I find amusing is the possibility of us making a profit on Bernabei.

I wrote earlier this week about how ironic it would be if we managed to sell a player who, by most appearances, has been a failure here, at the same time that our rivals are struggling to shift some of their supposedly best players.

But “failure” is a relative term. Failing to adapt to a new environment isn’t a moral or professional failing—it’s just part of the risk inherent in football transfers. And even in such cases, clubs can achieve positive outcomes by finding the right destination for a player.

Contrast that with how other clubs handle their “failures.” Some give them the captaincy, pay them £40,000 a week, and even put them in the Hall of Fame. Perspective is everything.