Giovani Lo Celso: Tottenham midfielder fills James Maddison's boots after goals against Man City and Aston Villa
Giovani Lo Celso has scored two goals in as many Premier League games, against Manchester City and Aston Villa; Argentine spent last season on loan at Villarreal; the 27-year-old also ranks among elite midfielders for passing, regaining possession in middle third and winning fouls
News Editor @SkySportsLyall
Thursday 7 December 2023 08:49, UK
Ask any member of the Argentina squad who their best technical player is and they will, of course, say Lionel Messi, but ask them who the second best is and they will likely give you a more surprising answer: Giovani Lo Celso.
Perhaps that is less surprising if you consider how the 27-year-old has performed for his country over the last few years; 48 caps and 14 assists since his debut in 2017, playing in all but eight games when he has been fit, and always loyally available for selection.
His technical proficiency has never been in question, especially in Argentina and Spain, where he made his name at Real Betis on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, and it was why he was snapped up by Spurs to play an advanced midfield role under Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.
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But his ability to impact games in the Premier League has suffered ever since Pochettino was sacked just three months later, and his Spurs career looked over before it had began following the arrival of Jose Mourinho and then Antonio Conte; two managers whose playing style clearly did not match that of a creative midfielder who needs to see a lot of the ball.
It was widely presumed Lo Celso would be one of those sold by Spurs in the summer, considering he had spent last season on loan at Villarreal in a system that suited him, first under Unai Emery and then Quique
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