Celtic reportedly want player that once clashed with Lionel Messi in training

Add as preferred source on Google

Celtic are reportedly leading Santos in the race to sign Argentina international Fabricio Bustos. It would be a real coup for the Hoops, to sign a player that has trained and played alongside Lionel Messi. Back in 2019, Celtic target Bustos spoke of how he had a training-ground spat with Messi.

Bustos, 25, has been excellent for Independiente over the years. The 5ft 5in right-back has clocked up a huge 154 appearances for the Argentine side – earning four Argentina caps in the process. But he has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Independiente – and clubs are lining up moves.

Homme du Match say Celtic and Santos have been offered the right-back. The report says Celtic are leading the race to get him, with a fee of £3.4million required. In 2019, Bustos spoke of how he and Messi had a scrap in Argentina training back in 2018 – the year in which he won his four caps.

“We have an excellent group with the national team,” Bustos is quoted as saying two years ago by Spanish newspaper Marca. “I had a clash with Messi, it wasn’t nice. Was too strong in one play and I should have avoided him. I apologised, but he said it was nothing so I was calm.”

Bustos aggression, shown in spat with Messi, should entice Celtic

In the first four games of the season, one thing that has become clear is that Celtic are a bit, nice. The loss of Scott Brown has seen the Hoops lose their midfield bite – while their defence lack the necessity to leave a foot in. Anthony Ralston has been good, but he is hardly the long-term answer.

Spending little over £3million on Bustos – an Argentina international – is a better solution on the right of the defence. He would be Celtic’s most-exciting right-back in years. But also, he replaces the tenacity that has evaporated out of Celtic’s side in recent months.