Tottenham exit ‘essential’ as international boss applauds star’s decision to leave Spurs

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After leaving Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent basis over the summer, things could hardly have started any better for a footballer enjoying his best form in years.

To think, Tottenham were supposed to have got the better of a deal which saw Giovani Lo Celso return to Spain. As part of the arrangement, Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs side would get first refusal on Johnny Cardoso; the Argentine’s Real Betis team-mate.

But while Cardoso struggles for minutes – only two La Liga starts so far – Lo Celso is rediscovering the form that made him such a hit in his first spell in Andalusia.

The former Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica youngster is averaging a goal a game in Spain’s top flight. Five starts, five goals.

Stats website Sofascore give Gio Lo Celso the highest rating of any La Liga player too; the £8 million fee Real Betis stumped up at the end of August already looking like one of the best pound-for-pound investments of the summer window.

Argentina boss applauds Giovani Lo Celso’s Tottenham Hotspur exit

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni, meanwhile, is just glad to see Lo Celso playing regularly again. He has already started more games for Real Betis in 2024/25 than he did for Tottenham during the entirety of 2023/24.

“He went to a club where he always felt good,” Scaloni tells a press conference ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifier with Bolivia. “He feels comfortable and it is important that he plays.

“In the end, the league [the player plays in] is not essential. But [it is essential] that they play and get minutes.

“That is a basic concept.”

Lo Celso was rewarded with a return to Scaloni’s XI for the first time in six international matches during the 1-1 draw with Venezuela over the weekend.

Lo Celso admits he could not turn down Real Betis return

HITC reported in the off-season that Aston Villa had shown an interest in keeping Lo Celso in England.

Villa boss Unai Emery had worked with the two-time Copa America winner during a terrific loan spell at Villarreal in 2021/22; Lo Celso helping the Yellow Submarine come within touching distance of the Champions League final.

“I had several offers,” Lo Celso said during his Real Betis presentation when asked about those Aston Villa links.

“The markets are not easy but I made the decision with my heart, and I know that it was the best option I could choose for many factors. (Betis) club is constantly growing and has a coach (Manuel Pellegrini) with a lot of prominence.

“The truth is that I am very happy with this decision.”

With 16, Lo Celso enjoyed the most prolific season of his career at Real Betis back in 2018/19. He is nearly a third of the way to matching that tally already, even with pumpkins and Dracula masks still on the supermarket shelves.

“I know him very well,” Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini told reporters a fortnight ago, Lo Celso brought in due to an injury to Isco and the departure of Nabil Fekir.

“He is the type of player we needed to replace Isco and Nabil. I am very happy for him and he has been an important reinforcement for the team.”