Giovani Lo Celso has left Tottenham Hotspur in a permanent deal believed to be worth £8.4m plus add-ons, moving to Real Betis after five years at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Argentinian has joined his former side, who he departed in 2019 to undergo a move to the Premier League. Unfortunately, despite his clear talent, things never worked out for the attacking midfielder, who leaves The Lilywhites for a cut-price fee, one year before his contract expires.
As part of the deal, and the reason for such a small fee, American international Johnny Cardoso has been included in the transfer, however, it is not the usual straightforward player-plus-cash deal.
Spurs could benefit from the midfielder further down the line in his career, and he may not even have to play for the club, ever. It has been widely reported that Tottenham have agreed a pre-arranged fixed fee of £25.2m for Cardoso, meaning they will have the first option to sign him should another club come circling in the future.
Failing that, if they decide against purchasing him, they will receive a percentage of the fee should the Betis man move elsewhere.
In simple terms, it appears that Lo Celso has been sold, with Spurs retaining a 50% sell-on clause, and the North London side have also been granted ownership of Cardoso, in what can only be described as one of the craziest transfer deals in history.
Who is Cardoso?
Having joined Los Verdiblancos in January, the 22-year-old midfielder made 19 appearances in all competitions during the 2023/24 season and has made a further three at the start of this season.
As a youngster, he had stints at Avaí and Criciúma before playing for the youth academy at Internacional, after he moved to Brazil with his Brazilian parents at the age of three years old.
Cardoso made his professional debut in a 3–1 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A victory over Atlético Mineiro in September 2019, as a 17-year-old, and just over four years later, he got his big move to Europe. He joined Real Betis and took no time at all to settle in.
In 2020, he opted to pledge his allegiance to the USMNT, despite being able to represent Brazil, and has made fifteen caps since.
Standing at six feet tall, the American is a work-horse out of possession, having made an average of 2.2 interceptions per game - the highest amount in the league. He also made 3.2 tackles per 90 last season, ranking 13th out of those who made more than 15 La Liga appearances during 23/24.
Cardoso also possesses immense aerial ability winning an average of 2.6 aerial duels per 90 with a success rate of 60.3%. Last season, Ange Postecoglou's side massively struggled in the air, conceding 14 times from set-pieces in the Premier League alone.
All summer, it has been well-known that The Lilywhites were after a defensive midfielder, and although the left-footed American will not be arriving in N17 this summer, he may prove to be a solid option in transfer windows to come.
Lo Celso neglected under Postecoglou
Giovani Lo Celso felt like a new signing to Tottenham fans at the start of Postecoglou's reign, impressing many with admirable performances throughout pre-season. However, it seemed that normal service had resumed when he came off injured at half-time in his first start of the season.
The Argentine dipped in and out of the match-day squad, until an injury crisis in November gifted him a chance to finally prove his worth, and he took it with open hands and never looked back.
His first start came against Aston Villa, where he scored a thumping half-volley to give the hosts the lead in North London, and although Spurs did not claim all three points, the midfielder was very impressive. A week later, he scored and starred at the Etihad Stadium, as a depleted side fought back to earn a point against Manchester City.
Whenever he was given an opportunity, he excelled, but with James Maddison returning in Janaury, minutes soon faded away. Even though the Englishman was performing well below par, the two-time Copa America champion could not find himself named in the starting lineup, and the promise of regular minutes had been broken.
It all seemed incredibly harsh considering how well Lo Celso performed when he did start last season, and it comes as no surprise that he handed in a transfer request this summer. Considering the potential which fans saw glimpses of, it is a huge shame things never worked out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Re-acquainting with Betis
For Lo Celso, his main priority will be keeping himself fit in order to play regular first-team football, and he has returned to an environment which will allow him to do exactly that.
Despite playing for Paris Saint Germain, it was his form in Spain which caught the eye of many across Europe, and in particular, his standout 2018/19 season. Having registered 16 goals and six assists in 45 appearances across all competitions, it led to a big-money move to Premier League giants Tottenham.
That season, he helped fire Real Betis into the UEFA Europa League knockout stage, in what was their first appearance in a European competition since the 2013/14 campaign. The tricky playmaker scored five times in just seven games, during that run to the Round of 32.
The physicality of the Premier League never favoured the 57-time Argentinian international, and the more technical side of La Liga will allow him to thrive, as he looks to play his way back into Lionel Scaloni's starting eleven ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is now under two years away.
A chance to play regularly, in a team which suits his abilities to a tee, will hopefully see Giovani Lo Celso get back to his very best.
Mixed showings with Mourinho
Having originally been signed by fellow countrymen Mauricio Pochettino in 2019, his best showings in the early days of his Tottenham career came under the guidance of legendary manager Jose Mourinho.
With Harry Kane out injured at the beginning of 2020, Lo Celso was pivotal in ensuring that his side avoided a horrific drop-off in form, whilst he also ensured Spurs qualified for the Fifth Round of the Emirates FA Cup, after a cracking display at Southampton.
His form continued into lockdown and The Lilywhites looked as though they had secured a gem in their midfield. At the beginning of his second term at the North Londoners, his impressive cameos continued, with the ultimate sign coming when he scored the second in a 2-0 victory over Manchester City, just 35 seconds after coming off the bench.
However, it wasn't all sunshine for Lo Celso at Tottenham, and for the next three years, he was repeatedly loaned out around Europe in a bid to find a permanent buyer and was disliked by Head Coaches Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.
Should Lo Celso discover his pre-2021 form, fans around the world will soon start to take note of the player he truly is.