Paulo Bernardo (footballer) explained

Paulo Bernardo
Full Name:Paulo Guilherme Gonçalvés Bernardo
Birth Date:24 January 2002
Birth Place:Almada, Portugal
Height:1.80 m[1]
Position:Central midfielder
Currentclub:Celtic
Clubnumber:28
Youthyears1:2010–2022
Youthclubs1:Benfica
Years1:2020–2024
Clubs1:Benfica B
Caps1:38
Goals1:7
Years2:2021–2024
Clubs2:Benfica
Caps2:17
Goals2:0
Years3:2023
Clubs3:Paços de Ferreira (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:2
Clubs4:Celtic (loan)
Caps4:22
Goals4:3
Years4:2023–2024
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years5:2024–
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:Portugal U15
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2017–2018
Nationalteam2:Portugal U16
Nationalcaps2:11
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2018–2019
Nationalteam3:Portugal U17
Nationalcaps3:19
Nationalgoals3:4
Nationalyears4:2019
Nationalteam4:Portugal U19
Nationalcaps4:5
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2021–
Nationalteam5:Portugal U21
Nationalcaps5:21
Nationalgoals5:6
Club-Update:15:30, 11 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:18:37, 20 November 2023 (UTC)

Paulo Guilherme Gonçalves Bernardo (pronounced as /pt/; born 24 January 2002) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Celtic[2]

Club career

Early career

A product of S.L. Benfica's youth system, Bernardo played for its ranks and signed his first professional contract with Benfica on 26 February 2018.[3] He made his debut for Benfica's reserve team in a Segunda Liga match against Vilafranquense on 2 February 2020, with manager Renato Paiva praising him as one of the "future stars of the club".[4]

Benfica

After a promising 2020–21 season with the B team, Bernardo started the 2021–22 season, with various solid performances, leading him to be named Liga Portugal 2's Midfielder of the Month for the months of October and November.[5] On 2 November 2021, Bernardo made his first-team debut coming on the 77th minute in a 5-2 Champions League group stage defeat at Bayern Munich.[6] Later that week, on 7 November 2021, he made his Primeira Liga debut coming on for injured João Mário on the 23rd minute for a 6–1 home win against Braga.[7]

On 31 January 2023, Bernardo was loaned by Paços de Ferreira until the end of the season.[8] On 6 March 2023, Bernardo scored his first goal for Paços de Ferreira in a 2-1 loss against Casa Pia.[9]

Celtic

On 1 September 2023, Scottish Premiership club Celtic announced the signing of Bernardo on a season-long loan with an option to buy.[10] On 30 December 2023, Bernardo scored his first goal for Celtic in a 2-1 win over rivals Rangers.[11]

On 1 August 2024, Bernardo returned to Celtic on a permanent transfer, signing a five-year contract.

International career

With the Portugal under-17s, Bernardo took participated in the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Ireland, playing four matches, scoring one goal as the team lost in the quarter-finals to Italy.[12]

On 6 September 2021, Bernardo won his first cap for the under-21 side, replacing André Almeida in the 73rd minute in a 1–0 victory against Belarus for the 2023 European Championship qualification campaign.[13]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Benfica B2019–20Liga Portugal 22020
2020–21174174
2021–22102102
2022–239191
Total387387
Benfica2021–22Primeira Liga1702050240
2022–230000101020
Total170003060260
Paços de Ferreira (loan)2022–23Primeira Liga132132
Celtic (loan)2023–24Scottish Premiership223510060334
Celtic2024–25Scottish Premiership1000100020
Total233511060354
Career total9112515012011213
Notes

Honours

Celtic

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Paulo Bernardo . S.L. Benfica . 12 August 2022.
  2. Web site: Acordo fechado: Paulo Bernardo vai jogar no Celtic a título definitivo . 2024-07-24 . www.record.pt . pt-PT.
  3. Web site: February 26, 2018. Benfica assina com cinco jovens, entre eles um avançado "com grande futuro". Benfica signs with five youngsters, including a striker "with great future". 2021-02-16. O Jogo. pt.
  4. Web site: pt. Renato Paiva aponta futuro cracks 'made in Seixal':"Paulo Bernardo é o próximo génio". www.record.pt. February 10, 2021.
  5. Web site: December 14, 2021. Paulo Bernardo eleito o melhor médio da Segunda Liga nos meses de outubro e novembro. Paulo Bernardo voted Segunda Liga's best midfielder for the months of October and November. 2022-03-29. zerozero.pt. pt.
  6. Web site: November 2, 2021. Paulo Bernardo: "O mister depositou muita confiança em mim". Paulo Bernardo: «The coach put a lot of trust in me». 2022-03-29. maisfutebol. pt.
  7. Web site: November 7, 2021. Gverreiros comidos de cebolada. Gverreiros defeated by cebolada. 2022-03-29. zerozero.pt. pt.
  8. Web site: F.C. Paços de Ferreira. PAULO BERNARDO ASSINA PELO FC PAÇOS DE FERREIRA. Paulo Bernardo signs with Paços de Ferreira. 31 January 2023. 13 February 2023. pt.
  9. Web site: 6 March 2023 . Casa Pia 2-1 Paços de Ferreira (6 Mar, 2023) Final Score . 6 March 2023 . ESPN. en.
  10. Web site: 1 September 2023 . Paulo Bernardo joins from Benfica on season-long loan . 3 September 2023 . Celtic F.C. . en.
  11. Web site: 30 December 2023 . Celtic 2-1 Rangers: Brendan Rodgers' side reassert authority with derby win . 30 December 2023 . BBC Sport. en.
  12. Web site: Portugal vs. Italy.
  13. Web site: Portugal vs. Belarus.