Former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has publicly urged the Celtic board to initiate negotiations to sign Marcelo Saracchi on a permanent basis. The Uruguayan defender, currently on loan from Argentine club Boca Juniors for the season, has impressed significantly since his summer arrival from South America.
Saracchi's Impact at Celtic Park
The 27-year-old left-back scored his first goal for Celtic in the dramatic midweek victory over Livingston, further cementing his growing reputation at the club. Throughout the campaign, Saracchi has demonstrated his capability as a reliable and effective replacement for Kieran Tierney whenever the Scottish international has been unavailable due to injury or other commitments.
O'Neill's Strong Recommendation
While Celtic do not possess an automatic option to purchase Saracchi when his loan agreement concludes, O'Neill believes the player has already shown sufficient quality to warrant the club's hierarchy engaging in transfer discussions. "Yeah, I think they should try," O'Neill stated emphatically.
He elaborated: "I think Kieran Tierney is playing brilliantly for us at this moment - back to the Kieran Tierney that Arsenal ended up buying. He's doing really well. But this little lad scored the goal for us. He's a strange character; I've called him 'Manuel' from Fawlty Towers because he hasn't a clue what I'm saying to him! He just says 'yes' to everything. But yeah, I think the club should be looking at something like that."
Strategic Considerations for Celtic
Saracchi's performances have provided Celtic with valuable defensive depth and versatility in the left-back position. His adaptation to Scottish football, despite language barriers that O'Neill humorously highlighted, suggests he possesses the resilience and football intelligence to succeed long-term at Celtic Park.
The club now faces a strategic decision regarding whether to pursue formal negotiations with Boca Juniors for Saracchi's permanent signature. O'Neill's endorsement adds significant weight to the argument for making the transfer happen, particularly given his historical understanding of what it takes to succeed at Celtic.
