Shaun Maloney Explains Surprise Celtic Exit

Shaun Maloney has explained the thinking behind Paulo Bernardo’s Celtic exit, with the midfielder leaving in search of regular football.

Bernardo has joined Górnik Zabrze on loan for the season, with the Polish club also holding an option to make the move permanent.

Maloney has now given more detail on the conversations which led to the midfielder moving away from Parkhead.

Speaking to TCW, Maloney revealed that Celtic had previously wanted Bernardo to stay when a loan opportunity emerged in January.

He said: “Paulo and Martin spoke. There was a loan offer for him in January and we really wanted him to stay.

“He’s a brilliant professional and a great player, but he needed to play games. Paulo and Martin came to the decision that if he wasn’t going to be a regular here, he should go and get games.”

That makes clear the decision was based around Bernardo’s need for regular minutes rather than any issue with his attitude or application.

Maloney was full of praise for the midfielder’s approach during his time at Celtic, particularly when he was not being selected.

He added: “He is a great professional, a great guy and trains 100 per cent every day, even when he doesn’t make squads.

“We will see where he is at in 12 months’ time.”

That final line is interesting given Górnik have an option to buy Bernardo at the end of the loan.

There is therefore no guarantee that the Portuguese midfielder will return to Celtic next summer, with his performances in Poland likely to play a big part in what happens next.

For now, the priority is regular football.

Celtic clearly still rate Bernardo, with Maloney stressing the club wanted to keep him earlier in the year, but the lack of regular minutes eventually led to the decision for him to move on.

He now has the chance to play consistently at Górnik, who will have the opportunity to turn the loan into a permanent transfer if his spell proves successful.