The Herald has revealed the timeline of Celtic’s transfer negotiations to sign Marcelo Saracchi.
It comes hot on the heels of their claim that Kelechi Iheanacho snubbed a deal with Celtic because he was offered £47,000 a week by Bursanspor.
That claim has been utterly trashed by the Turkish club who have signed the striker on a contract costing1.4m euros a season. Working out at around £23,000 a week, similar to the deal Iheanacho signed at Celtic last September as a free agent.
Josh McCafferty scooped the stories on Saracchi and Iheanacho.
The Newsquest reporter was out in the Algarve covering Celtic’s training camp and the friendly against Sporting.
The Albufeira Four were given access to interview seven different players plus three sessions with Martin O’Neill.
As the Celtic boss revealed after the draw with Middlesbrough he also went out on the booze with his new media buddies.
A generation back a pre-season trip would usually involve a Backroom Staff v Reporters match.
Alas with legacy outlets almost extinct the Reporters can’t even raise a five-a-side team.
In it’s place was a heavy night of Sangria alongside pint glasses of Venom.
THE CELTIC WAY- ON MESSAGE RATHER THAN FAN MEDIA
Having been so generous with access to players and management Celtic are now getting payback time.
With the club being heavily criticised for their transfer market failings they are calling in some favours to deflect away from failings.
Tonight, four days after Saracchi explained why he won’t be back at Celtic McCafferty explained to readers of The Celtic Way:
Celtic never made an official offer to re-sign Marcelo Saracchi, despite indicating they were keen on a Glasgow return for the player.
Martin O’Neill first stated in February that he believed the club should pursue a permanent transfer for the Uruguayan left-back, who arrived on loan from Boca Juniors last summer.
At the end of April, Celtic expressed to Saracchi’s representatives their intention to pursue a summer deal.
The club then opened talks in June once O’Neill was confirmed as permanent manager.
Celtic initially sought a loan deal, but Saracchi, who had only 18 months remaining on his Boca Juniors contract, did not want another temporary move.
As discussions continued, Boca Juniors told Celtic the Uruguayan was available for €1.5 million (£1.3m) this summer.
Celtic never returned with an official written offer because it is understood they were unwilling to match Saracchi’s wage demands.
There we go. The classic and very well used ‘greedy bhoy’ excuse. Surely Celtic knew Saracchi’s wage expectations before setting out in negotiations?
That attempt at deflecting for the club throws light on a couple of key area.
One being that no official offer was ever made to the player.
Secondly, Celtic only wanted another loan deal! Something in no-ones interest. Were they unsure of Saracchi’s quality or just trying to cut costs. Similar to the Lawwell tactics for John McGinn in 2018 that never ended well.
No doubt McCafferty will be hoping that his efforts will result in an exclusive incoming transfer from his new found contacts.
First news of Celtic’s interest in Camilo Duran came from David Friel of The Sun. A veteran of exclusive Celtic news.
Tonight The Herald has another embargoed story from Albufeira. O’Neill discusses his relationship with Jim White among other things.
The Hearld will be pathological fu**in liars like the rest of them !
Beginning to care less and less what MON has to say . It’s patently obvious he is on script.
Sitting watching Hearts getting dismantled in the qualifiers.
Would love to find it quite amusing but that could be us shortly.
Mind you, I am expecting an outpouring of grief from the media and pundits, also Sevco fans, as their adopted “it would be great for scottish fitba” club gets drubbed, they will be inconsolable….
Hey Joe, I had to look up Venom, then realised I’d tasted at parties n weddings back in Scotia.
Had to watch MONs comments from post match Saturday, I’m now unsure if he’s been duped by the board. IF he knows the actual state of play or is he shielding them, I find it difficult to discern that.
Let’s see what happens between now and the qualifiers, then we can make a better judgement.
???
MON is a desmond lackey yes man,he’s ski nt and needs money,what other self respecting boss would behave like O’Neill.Rodgers went so the board turned to O’Neill who jumped at the chance,just got Celtic back on track again so they sacked him,then brought in Nancy to replace him which turned into a shit show,so they went back to O’Neill to save the day.If O’Neill had any pride or self esteem he would have told desmond and the board to fuck off after way they treated him,so yes he’s a self serving yes man.
The wage demands we shouldn’t be matching are the ones the office boy’s getting away with for playing at being CEO.