Report: Lo Celso wants to leave Tottenham and join Villarreal ‘no matter what’

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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso has decided he wants to leave Spurs and join La Liga side Villarreal on a permanent deal this summer.

The Argentine initially joined Spurs on loan from Real Betis in the summer of 2019. That move was made permanent in the following year, but he just hasn’t been able to fulfil his potential in North London.

Lo Celso has played just 84 times for Tottenham in all competitions, starting just 50 of those games. Although he has shown his class on the pitch in flashes, it was evident that he was surplus to requirement after Antonio Conte came in last season.

The 26-year-old spent the second half of last term at Villarreal. He was absolutely brilliant for Unai Emery’s side, and they are keen to make his move permanent this summer. Lo Celso has made up his mind too now.

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Lo Celso wants to leave Tottenham and join Villarreal no matter what

Conte decided to leave Lo Celso and a few other players out of their pre-season tour to South Korea. That all but made it clear that the Spurs boss didn’t fancy them, which means they will likely be sold this summer.

According to Spanish outlet El Periodico Mediterraneo – as relayed by SportWitness – Spurs’ decision to leave out Lo Celso has opened the door for Villareal to re-sign him in the coming weeks.

The Argentine, branded as a ‘magnificent player‘, is free to consider any club in the world that fancies him, but the outlet claims that he has decided that Villarreal are the one, and he wants to join them ‘no matter what’.

That should play into Emery’s hands now.

TBR View:

Lo Celso is a fantastic player, there’s no debate on that front.

The Argentine is excellent on the ball, is a good passer and can score and create goals as well. However, his biggest issue at Tottenham has been consistency – both with respect to his form and his fitness.

That has hurt his chances at Spurs and it really is a shame that things haven’t worked out for him. However, this should open the door for him to return to Spain, where he can show the world what he’s all about again.

It will be interesting to see if Villarreal can get this deal over the line before the window shuts this summer.

• Report: Tottenham could price player out of summer exit, Levy is demanding more than £30m to sell