The Paulo Bernardo to Celtic transfer obstacle that was overcome as old Benfica coach makes 'different level' admission

There was a late deadline day arrival at Celtic as the champions confirmed the loan signing of Paulo Bernardo.

The Benfica midfielder has joined on a season-long loan from the Lisbon giants and the agreement includes an option to buy for the Hoops. How much for remains to be seen, but the expectation in Portugal as late as last week was that Bernardo could be stuck at Estadio Da Luz. despite interest in loaning him from Europe. A Bola claim that his high Benfica salary made a deal difficult. Whether Celtic have reached an agreement with the Portuguese club that sees them cover only a percentage of his wages is unclear, but the option to make it permanent may have sweetened the deal in that regard.

The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Pacos de Ferreira, scoring twice in 13 appearances. That didn't save them from the drop, however, but according to former Benfica youth coach Luis Castro, Bernardo benefitted from his stint with the Porto-based outfit. He told A Bola: "From a collective point of view because the club went down and there were changes of coaches, it didn't go well. But individually it went well for him. He got more out of it than Henrique Araújo."

Castro also picked out Bernardo as one of his youth prospects that has shown the levels expected of him. Asked which of proteges should be at a higher level, he replied: "I thought that, at this point, Henrique Araújo and Paulo Bernardo were already at a different level and showed everything I saw in them. Henrique suffered because he was a year younger than Gonçalo Ramos. If Ramos leaves, Henrique explodes."

Bernardo could make his Celtic debut away to Rangers on Sunday lunchtime. And the new recruit insists he is ready.

He added: “The manager told me