Celtic hero Jackie McNamara knows a thing or two about defending, which is why he’s highlighted the importance of one loanee.
The Hoops have been plagued by injury issues throughout the course of this season. That has forced several fringe players to step up and be counted when the going got tough.
Poor recruitment saw the team struggle for real consistency up until April. But some players came in on loan deals and played their part in the dramatic title win.
Julian Araujo’s January arrival may have been limited, but his contribution to the side before injury cut his season short went with much acclaim from the support.
Another notable name who played his part when called upon was Marcelo Saracchi.
The Uruguayan arrived on loan from Boca Juniors in June 2025, much to the understudy of Kieran Tierney, who returned to the Hoops after stints down south and abroad.
Saracchi’s contribution in the final-day title decider against Hearts summed up his quality, and his character.
He replaced Tierney after 73 minutes, injecting some much-needed energy into a team needing a goal to clinch the trophy.
14 minutes later and he played a pivotal role in Daizen Maeda’s 87th-minute strike.
Saracchi took the ball, burst into midfield, and played a brilliant pass to Callum Osmand, who set Maeda up.
It was a key role that highlights his tenacity and forward-thinking ability when the stakes couldn’t be higher.
He showed his South American grit, too, not afraid to get in the faces of Hearts players who attempted to stamp their authority when the game was fading for them.
Former Celtic, Jackie McNamara, is a fan of the left-back. He said (TCW):
“I like him. I think he’s done well. Obviously, [Kieran] Tierney’s played a lot of games this season, not finished them all.
“I think it’s changed days when you can use five subs every game and change half your team. I wish they were doing that when I was managing!
“But it’s definitely changed days when you’re picking your subs on your bench and who you bring on. The fact you can change five players is a big advantage, especially for the bigger clubs.”
You would struggle to find a supporter who would be against signing the 28-year-old on a permanent deal.
He offers a different dynamic to the team, has clear quality, and a real fight to help his side win games.
The issue would be the amount of minutes he’d want, and how many Celtic could offer. Kieran Tierney remains first choice, but Saracchi has shown that when called upon, he can put in a shift.
Uruguay is a football factory.Just another in the long line of smart,savvy,tough footballers they seem to produce.For a country of only 3.5 million,they really punch up.Get this guy signed up.