Brazilian centre back Fabricio Bruno has been on the radar of Celtic for some time now. The Hoops were in a complex negotiation with Cruzeiro who were facing a lawsuit which was filed by the defender over unpaid wages. The talks could have been excruciating for Celtic, but things have gotten simpler as reports from Daily Record conveys that Bruno has now been released by Cruzeiro which makes him a free agent.
The Brazilian club will only retain 25 per cent of his registration, meaning any club signing him would have to buy them out or give the Brazilian side a percentage of any future transfer fee.
Celtic now only need to negotiate with Bruno directly with Cruzeiro being out of the picture. This is undoubtedly a boost for the Hoops if they wish to add the defender in this transfer window.
Do Celtic need centre back?
The Hoops are not in desperate need of a centre back as they have a decent amount of options in defence. Kristoffer Ajer and Christopher Jullien have featured heavily in the last few months. Hatem Abd Elhamed and Jozo Simunovic have missed out due to injuries, and both of them can play in the centre back position.
Celtic managed to discover another centre back in the form of Nir Bitton who played a crucial role at the beginning of the season in defence. Hence, a defender is not likely a priority for the Bhoys. However, Elhamed and Bitton are seen as makeshift options as Elhamed was brought in as a right-back and Bitton is predominantly a defensive midfielder.
Should Celtic sign Bruno?
The 23-year-old defender seemingly has the physical prowess and presence at the back to thrive in the Premiership. He stands in at 6ft3 and is reliable in the air. The Brazilian is also decent with the ball at his feet. Celtic usually dominate most of their games in the Premiership, and a ball-playing defender would suit them well.
Bruno isn’t blessed with too much pace so he could be troubled by pacy forwards. He might find it hard to recover if he is beaten in one on situations, but Bruno often reads the situation well and defends smartly. We believe that the defender could be a handy signing for Celtic once he settles in at the club. The physical battle of the Premiership might trouble him initially, but he has the strength to cope with it. With the path becoming much clearer to sign him, Lennon should look to get this deal done.
