One of the most novel pieces of deadline day business involved a player going absolutely nowhere – at least for now. Tottenham struck two interlinked agreements with Spanish side Real Betis before the transfer window slammed shut until January.
The first was nothing out of the ordinary, with Giovani Lo Celso rejoining the La Liga side after failing to make an impact in north London following his £27million move in January 2020. Having spent the last season-and-a-half out on loan at Villarreal and not being in Ange Postecoglou’s plans, his departure was inevitable, albeit for what appears to be a surprisingly low fee of £3million.
However, that is a nominal figure related to Tottenham’s other piece of business with Betis, which is the part that has raised eyebrows. Spurs have reportedly secured a ‘priority option’ on highly-rated US international midfielder Johnny Cardoso.
That means they will get first refusal to sign the 22-year-old for £25.2million in the future. That is not all. Spurs are said to have negotiated a sell-on clause for Cardoso, meaning they would receive a chunk of the fee if the player signs for another club.
Therefore, Tottenham could financially benefit from the sale of a player who never kicks a ball for the club. However, given Cardoso’s burgeoning reputation for both club and country, it would be a surprise if Spurs don’t take up the option to sign him.
Given that Postecoglou is well-stocked for midfielders, he can afford to wait. Tottenham haven’t commented on the Cardoso agreement and are unlikely to do so.
While it seems like an unusual deal in Premier League circles, such agreements are more common in other parts of the world. It will help Spurs remain at the front of the line for a player who has been linked with the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan.
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While he is a US international, Cardoso, who wears ‘Johnny’ on the back of his shirt, is of Brazilian heritage. Born in New Jersey to Brazilian parents, who uprooted to the States for a better life, his family returned to the South American country after Cardoso came into the world.
He played 144 times for Internacional before securing a move to Betis earlier this year, quickly establishing himself as a first-team regular. Despite split loyalties, Cardoso had no hesitation in committing his international allegiance to the US rather than Brazil.
“When the chance came to play for the US, I didn’t think twice,” he once said, per The Athletic. “I’m representing a country that my parents love.”
Renowned as a tough-tackling anchorman, Cardoso would add some bite to Tottenham’s midfield when – or indeed if – he pulls on the famous white shirt.