Marcelo Saracchi has insisted he adored his loan spell at Celtic but revealed Kieran Tierney locking him out of the starting XI cost him a shot at starring in the World Cup with Uruguay.
Loan spell at Celtic
The marauding left-back signed for Houston Dynamo earlier this month after a successful loan spell at Parkhead where he helped Martin O'Neill's side land the double. But the 11-times capped defender missed out on a place in Marcelo Bielsa's squad for the Finals.
The 28-year-old admitted that making only eight league starts at Celtic – with a further 11 from the bench – contributed to him failing to make the squad.
World Cup heartbreak
Saracchi said: "My last experience at Celtic was truly incredible, especially winning the league so late in the season. And my challenge in the MLS is to try and repeat that success. I wasn't enjoying my time at Boca Juniors and luckily, the loan to Celtic came about, where I was able to showcase my skills and play. Part of the reason I went to Celtic was to perform well and go to the World Cup."
"But what happened at Celtic was they rotated the team with me and the other left back at the club. When Marcelo Bielsa contacted me to say I wasn't going to be part of his squad, he told me that part of the reason for that was because I didn't have the most minutes on the pitch, so I completely understood what he told me. But Celtic was an incredible experience. I would obviously love to return to playing for Uruguay one day. I'll always fight and work to return to the national team."
