Giovani Lo Celso: The Next Big Thing for Barcelona?
Giovani Lo Celso, the Argentine midfielder who currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur, has been making headlines recently as a top target for Barcelona. The interest reportedly stems from Lionel Messi’s high praise for his national teammate, who he believes is the best player on the Spurs team. With Messi now playing for PSG, it seems that his former club is keen to take his advice and bring Lo Celso to the Camp Nou.
Lo Celso’s Career So Far
Lo Celso began his career at Rosario Central in Argentina, before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2016. He spent two seasons with the French giants before moving to Real Betis on loan in 2018. After impressing during his loan spell, Betis exercised their option to buy him outright in 2019. However, just one year later, he was on the move again, this time to Tottenham Hotspur.
Since joining Spurs in 2020, Lo Celso has struggled to make an impact. He has been plagued by injuries and has only made 37 appearances for the club in two seasons. He has also spent time on loan at Villarreal during this period. Despite this, Xavi reportedly sees him as a key player for his Barcelona side.
Lo Celso’s Role at Barcelona
According to reports, Xavi is keen to use Lo Celso in the “Messi role” at Barcelona. This would see him play as an attacking midfielder, supporting the forwards and creating chances for his teammates. Lo Celso is known for his technical ability and vision, which would make him well-suited to this role.
However, it is worth noting that Lo Celso is not a direct replacement for Messi. While he may be able to play a similar role on the pitch, he does not possess the same level of talent and skill as the Argentine superstar. It remains to be seen whether he would be able to fill the void left by Messi’s departure.
Financial Fair Play Considerations
Any deal for Lo Celso would have to take into account Financial Fair Play regulations. Barcelona are currently in a difficult financial situation, and they will need to be careful with their spending this summer. They have already signed Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay on free transfers, but they will need to sell players before they can make any big-money signings.
Lo Celso is under contract at Tottenham until 2025, which means that any deal for him would likely be expensive. However, if Barcelona can find a way to make it work, he could be a valuable addition to their squad.
Other Midfield Targets for Barcelona
Lo Celso is not the only midfielder that Barcelona are targeting this summer. They are also said to be close to completing a deal for Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan. The German international has been linked with a move away from the Premier League, and it seems that Barcelona could be his next destination.
If Barcelona were to sign both Lo Celso and Gundogan, it would give them a strong midfield for the upcoming season. However, they will need to sell players first in order to make room for these new arrivals.
Conclusion
Giovani Lo Celso may not be a household name like Lionel Messi, but he has the potential to be a key player for Barcelona. His technical ability and vision make him well-suited to the “Messi role” in Xavi’s team, and his versatility means that he can play in multiple positions across the midfield. However, any deal for him would have to take into account Financial Fair Play regulations, and Barcelona will need to sell players before they can make any big-money signings.