Celtic have two very different left-back routes in front of them this summer, and the smarter one is not necessarily the one that carries the bigger name.
Andy Robertson will always stir feeling around Celtic. He is a Scotland captain, a proven Premier League player, and a name that makes sense emotionally because of his connection to the club while Marcelo Saracchi has looked at home in the role whenever called upon this season.
That is why Saracchi should be ahead of Robertson in Celtic’s thinking. Not because the Champions League winner lacks pedigree, but because keeping the Uruguayan is the smarter footballing decision right now.
Would you take Marcelo Saracchi at Celtic permanently?
Celtic v Falkirk - William Hill Premiership
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Saracchi gives Celtic the deal that already makes sense
Saracchi is not an idea on a shortlist. He is already in Glasgow, already part of the squad, and already visible to the staff in training and on matchdays.
That matters when Celtic are trying to make quick, sensible decisions in a summer that could bring wider change. A player who has already lived inside the club carries less adjustment risk than a bigger name arriving from another environment.
The strongest point in Saracchi’s favour is that the Hoops are already moving to tie him down long-term. The club intend to permanently acquire Marcelo Saracchi, with talks expected in Scotland, and he has already made 23 appearances this season.
Celtic v St Mirren - Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Semi Final
Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images
Robertson is the romantic option, not the practical one
Robertson’s quality is not in question. Celtic would be dealing with a player who has operated at the highest level and still carries major standing in the Scottish game.
MORE CELTIC STORIES
His arrival comes with plenty of baggage. As emotional as it would be for him to play for his boyhood club, the 32-year-old’s wages would have to be taken into account, as well as finding a way to accommodate him and Kieran Tierney in the starting XI.
Andrew Robertson of Liverpool applauds the fans following the team's victory during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace
Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
There is also competition around him. Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur face competition from Atletico Madrid, which adds another layer to a deal that already looks less straightforward than Saracchi.
Practicality is just as important and Saracchi’s decision will hinge on how long it takes the Hoops to find a new manager this summer, but the Hoops need to think logically instead of emotionally.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox