What Paulo Bernardo told agent about Celtic transfer as Brendan Rodgers talks laid bare

Paulo Bernardo put his shirt on returning to Celtic.

And the Portuguese star says a mixture of fire and ice melted his heart as it also remained in Glasgow before his comeback was sealed. Bernardo was so keen to turn last term’s loan from Benfica into a permanent transfer that he kept some of his clobber in the city.

The 22-year-old had been told by boss Brendan Rodgers before last season even ended that he wanted him back and the midfielder’s mind was already set on it. Bernardo savoured the peace off the park and the frenzy on it during his first year and was determined to sample it all over again. Having finally managed to secure the permanent switch from Lisbon last week, the playmaker headed back to Scotland knowing he had plenty of kit waiting for him upon arrival.

Bernardo explained: “I brought a lot of clothes and things last year and I kept it in storage here because I didn’t know if I was coming back or not. My continuity in Benfica, it wasn’t certain. If I moved to somewhere else, then I could just take my things from here.

“I wanted to do this step and to come back again because I really liked being here last season. I’m really glad that happened. This year it will be a little bit easier, because I have my things here in Scotland.

“I always hoped to come back and I wanted to do this move. And I’m really happy. I never have troubles here in Scotland. It is calm and chilled and I’m a quiet person, so it was good for me.

“I had the park outside my house, I could go for a walk and clear my head or some things like that. My girlfriend was here with me, too, last year, the whole season. And she really liked to be here too.

“So it was the club, the city, the fans, everything. For me, it was nice and calm, but then