Alex Collado is ‘very close’ to leaving La Liga giants Barcelona but the Celtic target would prefer to stay in Spain and join a top-flight rival on loan instead, as reported by AS.
Celtic’s interest in the 23-year-old La Masia graduate is far from a new development.
The Scottish Daily Mail reported all the way back in 2020 (September 23rd, page 86) that the Scottish Premiership champions were weighing up an offer. Two years on, Collado is still a Barcelona player. Though not for much longer, it seems, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the former Spain U19 international has asked Blaugrana coach Xavi Hernandez to let him leave in pursuit of more regular game time.
Celtic renew interest in Barcelona starlet Alex Collado
Now, Celtic might not have a Pedri, a Gavi or a Frenkie de Jong. But they do have a Matt O’Riley, a Reo Hatate and a David Turnbull, to name but three.
AS say that that Celtic are one of four clubs who have submitted a loan bid for Collado.
But while game time would be easier to come by in Glasgow than Catalonia, it is far from guaranteed. Perhaps that is why Collado, as AS point out, would ‘prefer’ to stay in Spain with newly-promoted Girona interested. Segunda outfit Eibar are also in contention, plus Olympiakos from Greece.
The report adds that Collado, who can also play out wide and possesses the kind of mesmerising footwork you’d expect from a footballer born and raised in La Masia, is ‘very close’ to leaving the Camp Nou. His agent, Marc Sanllehi, was at Barca’s training ground on Wednesday to finalise his departure.
‘Many similarities with Lionel Messi’
It must be said that Collado, fresh from a loan at Granada has not slammed the door shut in Celtic’s face. Though nor is it wide open.
The rapid rise of Felipe Jota, Liel Abada and co at Parkhead is proof of the magic Ange Postecoglou can work with talented young players. But Collado – just 13 league stats to his name at the age of 23 – wants guaranteed minutes. And Celtic, even with their hectic fixture schedule, are in no real position to make such an offer given the quality already available to Postecoglou in midfield.
“If I have to highlight a single player, I’ll stick with Alex Collado,” Alcoyano coach Vicente Parras told Sport ahead of a 2021 clash with Barcelona B.
“Many compare him to (Lionel) Messi. And he has many similarities in the way he plays.”
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