Matt O'Riley's Celtic transfer exit irrelevant to P...

Matt O’Riley’s Celtic transfer exit irrelevant to P… as he declares ‘I want his… Read More.

Paulo Bernardo is confident in his ability to step up and fill Matt O’Riley’s role at Celtic, regardless of whether O’Riley stays or leaves the club amid ongoing transfer interest from England and abroad.

After completing a £3.5 million permanent move from Benfica, the Portuguese midfielder is determined to make a significant impact at Celtic.

He believes that his growth during last season’s loan spell has prepared him for a leadership role within the team and to support captain Callum McGregor.

Bernardo expressed his commitment to working hard and seizing his opportunities at Celtic.

He emphasized that his focus is on doing his job, and whether O’Riley stays or departs will not deter him from aiming to secure a place in the starting lineup.

He highlighted that every player at Celtic should aspire to take on leadership responsibilities, noting that his experience as a captain for Portugal’s Under-21 team has equipped him with valuable leadership skills.

Bernardo praised McGregor as an excellent captain but also mentioned that more players should step up to support the captain in leading the team.

Furthermore, Bernardo is hopeful that his permanent move to Celtic will open the door to a call-up to the senior Portugal national team.

He acknowledged the high level of competition within the Portuguese squad, particularly in midfield, where players like Bruno Fernandes set the standard.

However, Bernardo remains patient and focused on proving himself at Celtic, believing that his hard work will eventually lead to opportunities at the international level.

Meanwhile, Celtic is also making moves to strengthen their squad, particularly in the striking department. The club has renewed its interest in Norwich City striker Adam Idah, who had a successful loan spell at Celtic last year.

Despite the interest, Norwich is standing firm on their valuation of the player, but it is understood that an offer between £6 million and £8 million could be enough to persuade the club to sell.

Norwich’s manager, Johannes Hoff Thorup, recently welcomed Idah back into the squad following disciplinary action taken against the striker for missing a flight to a pre-season friendly.

While acknowledging that the transfer window is still open and anything could happen, Thorup emphasized the importance of players like Idah to the squad.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to bring Idah back to Parkhead, viewing the striker as a valuable addition to his attacking options.

The club’s determination to secure Idah’s services indicates their intent to build a strong squad capable of competing on multiple fronts this season.

Paulo Bernardo is ready to take on a leadership role at Celtic and fill the void left by a potential O’Riley departure.

At the same time, Celtic is actively pursuing Adam Idah to bolster their attacking options as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Both Bernardo and Idah are seen as key components of Celtic’s plans as they aim