Celtic summer target Fausto Vera looks like he’s signing for Brazil side side Corinthians rather than heading to Glasgow to play alongside fellow Argentinian Alexandro Bernabei who signed for the Hoops in a £3.5m transfer from Lanus last month.
Celtic’s focus appeared to switch to Vera after initial interest in Vinicius Souza failed to reach a positive outcome. However the arrival of Aaron Mooy this week seems to have filled that gap in the squad with Celtic apparently content to drop out of the running in the race to sign Vera, with Belgian side Brugge and Brazilian club Corinthians the main contenders in a three way race to sign the midfielder.
Reports indicated that Celtic were interested in a loan deal with an option to buy but the interest elsewhere pushed the player’s value to around £5.5m with Celtic not prepared to spent that sum of money after the signing of Cameron-Carter Vickers, Jota and Alexandro Bernabei.
Last night Argentinian sports journalist César Luis Merlo provided an update that indicates that Corinthians have won the race and that means that Fausto Vera is staying in Soth America – for now – and not making the move to Europe.
And with a 30% sell-on clause in this deal, it looks like Argentinos Juniors will benefit down the line if the player does indeed make that move across the Atlantic further down the line.
César Luis Merlo reported:
“Fausto Vera is a new reinforcement for Corinthians. There is already an agreement between clubs and they are beginning to exchange contracts for the purchase of 70%. Everything has just been closed in Brazil, where the president of Timao, the president of Argentinos Juniors and the soccer player’s agent met.”
🚨Fausto Vera es nuevo refuerzo de Corinthians. Ya hay acuerdo entre clubes y están empezando a intercambiar los contratos por compra del 70%.
*️⃣Todo acaba de cerrarse en 🇧🇷, donde se juntó el presidente del Timao, el de Argentinos Juniors y el agente del futbolista. #TratoHecho pic.twitter.com/VArjdq22Uh— César Luis Merlo (@CLMerlo) July 22, 2022
Given the arrival of Aaron Mooy, Ange Postecoglou isn’t likely to be too disappointed in this one not working out.
