Diego Laxalt’s valuation appears to have taken a major drop over the course of his time at Celtic.
Back when the Hoops were signing him up on a season-long loan agreement from AC Milan, an option-to-buy fee was mooted. According to Sky Sports, Milan wanted as much as £9m for the clause to be included.
However, upon his return to Milan, things appear to be different. Pianeta Milan states that the Uruguayan’s valuation has dropped to €3.5m (£3m). That adds up to a £6m deficit in what the Serie A giants previously wanted for his signature.
Granted, Laxalt is now in a position where his contract at the San Siro is up in 12 months. That will undoubtedly have had an affect on the drop. But even so, that didn’t stop Milan from trying to get us to splash out £9m this summer on him.
Laxalt started off promisingly at Celtic, but a lack of defensive awareness made him a liability in the end. He would drop out of the first-team come the end of his loan spell, but he still managed to rack up 26 appearances in Glasgow [Transfermarkt].
Diego Laxalt’s valuation takes a hit; Celtic won’t be moving in
Don’t expect Celtic to go revisiting this one. Even if we still had the old managerial team in place, this wouldn’t have been pursued. And it most likely isn’t a move the player would want for the long-term either.
The regression in Laxalt was as bizarre as it was disappointing. When he came in he was aggressive, full of energy, and even impressing UEFA with his performances. Come the end he looked a nervous wreck who was careless in the challenge and positionally unaware.
Everything about his decline summed up how poorly the players were man-managed last year. Laxalt wasn’t the only one. So many other players have seen their valuations dip due to their performance levels. Players who would’ve had clubs breaking the bank to sign them have their stock nowhere near as high.
Laxalt will be fine. He’s talented enough to bag a move elsewhere. Another destination in Europe will call to him and all the best to him. He gave his all during his time here and deserved a better ending.
It will actually be interesting to keep an eye on his progress next year too. His displays at his next club will tell us a lot about where the true nature of the problem lay. If he goes to a Dinamo Moscow or Galatasaray and bosses it, eyebrows will be raised.
In any case, it’s all in the past now. Celtic and Laxalt was a partnership that just wasn’t meant to be.
In other news, we take a look at 3 defenders Celtic should monitor closely at Euro 2020.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
