Celtic reportedly wanted to bring Giorgian de Arrascaeta to the Scottish Premiership after he impressed for Uruguay at the World Cup.
Celtic were linked with a staggering, club-record transfer deal back in July.
The Sun claimed that Brendan Rodgers had sent scouts to watch Uruguay’s skilfull winger Giorgian de Arrascaeta in action for Cruzeiro during their Copa Libertadores campaign in the first few months of 2018.
A wonderfully gifted 24-year-old who is a joy to watch, De Arrascaeta only enhanced his growing reputation as Uruguay reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Russia. The problem, however, was that Cruzeiro were demanding £18 million – twice as much as Celtic’s current record signing Odsonne Edouard.
But his form in the final few months of 2018 suggest that De Arrascaeta would have been worth every penny.
He scored nine times and produced seven assists in all competitions as Cruzeiro finished second in Serie A and reached the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores.
Now, he is the most expensive footballer in the history of Brazilian football. De Arrascaeta left Cruzeiro for Flamengo in the January transfer window for a fee of £13 million (Esporte) – his value had gone through the roof during the World Cup it seems.
A player with huge natural ability and a typical South American spirit, anyone who watches Brazilian football on a regular basis will tell you what a signing De Arrascaeta would have been for Celtic.
There is arguably no player in Scottish football right now who can rival him in terms of technique or talent.
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