Former Tottenham man Giovani Lo Celso nearly produced a Puskás-worthy strike in Real Betis’ clash with Barcelona, but VAR ruled out the stunning effort.

Giovani Lo Celso never truly lived up to expectations at Tottenham Hotspur. The midfielder signed permanently from Real Betis on 28 January 2020 after Spurs triggered their purchase option.

Lo Celso went on to make 108 appearances for Tottenham, scoring just ten goals and registering eight assists during his time in north London.

He did have standout moments, including his dream full debut against Red Star Belgrade in November 2019, where he opened the scoring in a 4-0 win and controlled the tempo of the game, giving fans a glimpse of his playmaking ability.

Post-lockdown, he enjoyed one of his finest runs under Jose Mourinho, stepping up as Tottenham’s primary creative spark following Christian Eriksen’s departure. He produced back-to-back “phenomenal” performances, orchestrating a 2-1 win over Norwich City and dominating the midfield in a 2-0 victory against Manchester City, earning widespread praise for his work-rate and tactical versatility.

More recently, in 2023 under Ange Postecoglou, Lo Celso showed flashes of quality again. After being frozen out and sent on multiple loans, he enjoyed a mini-revival when James Maddison was injured, scoring a rocket against Aston Villa and another against Manchester City in consecutive weeks, winning back-to-back Player of the Match awards.

However, consistency was always lacking, with injuries further hampering his progress. In search of more playing time, the Argentine was sold back to Real Betis for £8.4 million plus add-ons and a sell-on clause.

Spurs also acquired an option to sign midfielder Johnny Cardoso, though that clause has since expired without being activated.

Giovani Lo Celso denied wonder goal vs Barcelona

Two years on from leaving Tottenham Hotspur, Lo Celso has continued to earn minutes in Spain with Betis.

In his first season back, he managed eight goals and three assists in 25 La Liga appearances. The following campaign was less successful, with just two goals and three assists in 24 league games, much of which he missed due to a hamstring injury.

This season, he has already registered an assist in two appearances and came agonisingly close to scoring his first goal in Betis’ clash with Barcelona.

Lo Celso struck a stunning volley on the half-turn from outside the box, beating goalkeeper Joan Garcia with sheer power. The strike looked destined to be a Puskas contender, but it was ruled out due to a handball in the build-up, denying the Argentine what would have been an all-time worldie.

Tottenham miss a creative spark like Lo Celso

Since leaving Spurs, Lo Celso has yet to win silverware with Real Betis. However, the Spanish side impressed last season, securing Champions League qualification.

Lo Celso is yet to feature in Europe’s premier competition this term, while former Tottenham man Troy Parrott has already scored on his debut.

Betis continue to impress domestically, sitting in the top three after winning six of their opening nine games. Meanwhile, Tottenham remain camped in 20th place in the Premier League, still struggling without their former playmaker.