Celtic look to have wasted a fine opportunity to keep impressive loan star Marcelo Saracchi. Saracchi helped the Bhoys win the league title on the final day of the season, but it now looks as though he will be heading back to parent club Boca Juniors.
The 28-year-old left-back drew praise from Martin O'Neill for being a 'special character', and he was liked by Celtic fans after making 15 league appearances for the club this season.
But while there were reports that the Bhoys were trying to sign him permanently, his agent has indicated otherwise.
Celtic pass on Marcelo Saracchi
Journalist Seba Ongarelli wrote on X: "Spoke to Saracchi's agent. He flew to Argentina yesterday and he'll join Boca Jrs back (season's over now). Although he really enjoyed his short time at Celtic and loves the fans, the club never offered him a permanent transfer deal."
That will be disappointing to many Celtic fans who wanted to see the full-back remain at the club for next season and beyond. Many will feel as though it was at least worth a try to see what the asking price on transfer fee and salary would have been.
There have been reports that O'Neill had urged the club to try to keep Saracchi this summer, but those calls have gone unanswered, according to this latest report.
Saracchi did have some troubling hamstring issues during the early part of his stay at Parkhead, but when he returned, he did feature regularly, albeit often off the bench to deputise for Kieran Tierney.
It will be interesting to see if the Uruguayan has a future at Boca, given he is 28 years of age and was sent out on loan for the season just gone. It may be one Celtic revisit later on in the summer, but for now they look to be passing.
Much of Celtic's recruitment this summer could revolve around the future of O'Neill, who is suncertain over whether he will stay with the club going forward.
"The pleasing thing for me if I truly reflect on it, is there is still a place in this game for older gentlemen," O'Neill told BBC Scotland.
"Despite the tactics that are involved now in the game, I do believe someone with some sort of experience can still play a part in proceedings."
Asked if he will stay, he added: "I genuinely do not know. I would not have expected anyone to say anything to me anyway. The response would have been we have to get Saturday out of the way and we'll see what develops from there."
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