Celtic loan player returning to parent club as update emerges on status of permanent deal
Uruguay defender heading back to parent club Boca Juniors with one eye on FIFA World Cup finals.
Celtic could be set for a busy summer transfer window as they look to improve their first team squad ahead of next season.
The SPFL champions, who got their hands on the Scottish Cup at the weekend with a 3-1 win over Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden Park, will have to get a new permanent head coach in place first. Martin O’Neill guided them to success on an interim basis and recently said he would consider remaining with the Hoops in an ambassadorial role.
Whoever take over at Celtic Park will have some big calls to make when it comes to the playing squad and where they need to improve or add more depth. There is also the status of a current loan player who may or may not have a long term future in Glasgow.
Celtic ‘keen to acquire’ loan player on a permanent transfer
According to a report from Bolavip, left-back Marcelo Saracchi is returning to parent club Boca Juniors following the conclusion of his loan spell with Celtic. The 28-year old will train with the Argentinian giants with the hopes of securing his place in the Uruguay squad for this summer’s FIFA World Cup finals in North America.
The former Levante and Fenerbahçe defender was not named in Marcelo Bielsa’s most recent international squad with his last call-up coming in October 2025. He currently has 11 caps for his country having also represented them at various levels of youth international football.
In terms of a potential return to Celtic, the same report claims that the Hoops are ‘keen to acquire’ Saracchi on a permanent transfer. The Uruguayan made 27 appearances across all competitions last season, including 19 in the Scottish Premiership, and scored one goal.
It has also been intimated that Saracchi may not be a player that Boca want to retain for two reasons. Firstly, they are well stocked for left-backs former Elche defender Lautaro Blanco their current starter.
Celtic loanee to train with Boca Juniors as Uruguay set to name World Cup squad
Secondly, domestic squad rules prevent them having more than a certain quote of foreign players registered. Boca already count former Manchester United and PSG duo Edison Cavani and Ander Herrera, a fellow Uruguayan and a Spaniard, amongst their non-Argentinian stars which leaves little space for Saracchi especially if he is not likely to be a guaranteed starter.
Although Boca would hope to secure a decent transfer fee for the player the benefit of freeing up a foreign player spot on their roster may be appealing enough that they would consider a reduced fee. It remains to be seen if a deal can be struck between the two parties.
As for Saracchi himself, he will hope that his performances on the way to helping Celtic do the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double will have been enough to impress Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa. With international squads from teams competing in this summer’s FIFA World Cup finals being named daily, the former Leeds United gaffer will potentially be amongst the next to reveal his group.