Former Celtic loanee Alex Valle is on course to make his stay at Italian side Como permanent, with the Serie B outfit reportedly ready to activate his £6 million release clause. [Fabrizio Romano]
The Spanish left-back initially joined Celtic from Barcelona in the summer and went on to make 19 appearances under Brendan Rodgers. He provided five assists during his time in Glasgow and was part of the side that edged out Rangers in a dramatic penalty shootout in the League Cup.
Valle arrived with good energy but was unable to dislodge Greg Taylor from the starting XI. With first-team football limited and Como showing concrete interest in the January window, Celtic opted to cut the loan short and allow the player to move on. His departure paved the way for the loan signing of Jeffrey Schlupp as a direct replacement on the left side of defence.
Despite only spending half a season in Glasgow, Valle is poised to pick up a league winners’ medal should Celtic avoid defeat against Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday. It would cap a productive, if brief, spell in Scottish football with potentially two medals—one for the League Cup and another for the league title—secured in just six months.
The 20-year-old’s performances were solid if not spectacular, and his decision to seek regular football in Italy appears to be paying off, with Como now ready to invest in his long-term future.
While Valle’s time in the Hoops may not have lived up to early expectations, few can argue with the silverware he’s likely to walk away with.
