NafisaCeltic supporters have barely had time to move on from the fallout surrounding the club’s controversial 3-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox last month.
That result remains one of the defining moments of the season so far, with Derek McInnes’ Rangers producing another emphatic victory over their Old Firm rivals and leaving Celtic facing difficult questions on and off the pitch.
But away from the action in Glasgow, another issue involving the Scottish champions is now developing — and this one could have significant consequences for a club thousands of miles away.
Reports from Brazil claim Celtic have escalated a dispute involving one of their former players, with FIFA potentially set to become the next stage in the disagreement.
The issue centres on a transfer which initially appeared to be a straightforward piece of business for the Hoops.
However, according to reports, Celtic are still waiting for money they were due from the deal.
The player at the centre of the dispute is Alexandro Bernabei, whose move from Parkhead to Brazilian side Internacional has now become the subject of an escalating financial row.
Celtic reportedly take Internacional dispute to FIFA
Bernabei left Celtic for Internacional in January 2025 after the two clubs reached an agreement believed to have been worth around £4million.
The Argentine left-back had arrived at Parkhead from Lanus in his homeland two years earlier, meaning Celtic were able to make a small profit on their original investment when they eventually sanctioned his departure.
However, the Scottish champions are understood to have protected their position further by insisting on a sell-on clause being included in the agreement.
That meant Celtic could potentially benefit again from any future transfer involving the defender.
The situation has now become considerably more complicated.
According to Brazilian journalist Alexandre Ernst, Celtic have not received instalment payments that they were due from Internacional and have referred the matter to the relevant authorities.
The reports claim the amount Celtic could be owed is around £5million, although the precise figure and details of the outstanding payments have not been officially confirmed by Celtic.
The dispute could therefore become a significant issue for Internacional, particularly given the club’s reported financial difficulties.
There are now fears in Brazil that FIFA could impose a transfer ban if Internacional are found to have breached their obligations.
Importantly, that would depend on the outcome of the relevant proceedings, meaning a sanction should not be treated as confirmed at this stage.
Internacional facing financial pressure
The timing is particularly difficult for Internacional.
The Brazilian club are reportedly dealing with debts of around £6million and have been looking at ways to reduce their costs.
Their financial position is being made even more complicated by the threat of relegation to Serie B, which would bring another major challenge to their finances and sporting plans.
Against that backdrop, a dispute over outstanding transfer payments to Celtic could become increasingly serious.
For Celtic, meanwhile, the issue represents money they are reportedly entitled to receive from a player who left Parkhead almost two years ago.
The Hoops will therefore be keen to see the situation resolved, particularly if the outstanding figure is indeed close to the reported £5million.
Bernabei’s time in Scotland ultimately produced limited numbers.
The Argentine made 28 appearances for Celtic and scored once before moving on to Internacional.
His departure initially appeared to bring the chapter to a close, but the financial arrangements surrounding the transfer have now put the deal back into the spotlight.
And while the attention around Celtic has recently been dominated by their struggles against Rangers — including the heavy 3-0 defeat at Ibrox — the developing Internacional dispute could prove to be an important story away from the pitch.
If the reports concerning unpaid instalments are accurate, Celtic’s decision to pursue the matter could eventually put pressure on Internacional to settle the outstanding amount.
The possibility of FIFA involvement would raise the stakes considerably.
For now, though, the key issue is that no FIFA transfer ban has been confirmed. The reported dispute still has to progress through the appropriate channels, and any eventual sanction would depend on the findings of the relevant authorities.
But with millions of pounds potentially involved, the Bernabei transfer is certainly no longer just another completed piece of Celtic transfer business.
Nafisa
