According to AS’s investigation into Barcelona’s long-standing interest in Giovani Lo Celso, last summer Tottenham declined to hold talks for the midfield player with the La Liga powerhouses.
Spurs Web has carried a number of claims over the past week claiming that Xavi Hernandez is eager to lure Lo Celso to Camp Nou.
This includes a statement from Sky Sports, which said earlier this week that the manager of Barcelona sees the Catalan team’s pursuit of the 27-year-old as a test of their commitment to him.
Giovani Lo Celso
Barca’s financial troubles forced them to give up on Lo Celso.
AS has now clarified why Barca’s summer attempt to get Lo Celso failed and whether the transfer could succeed in January.
According to them, Spurs declined to hold talks with the midfielder’s agent despite the Blaugrana’s continuous communication with them during the summer.
This is due to the fact that Tottenham was not happy with Barca’s sports director Mateu Alemany’s demand that the Premier League team pay a portion of the player’s wage rather than “pay a single euro” to sign him on loan.
According to the outlet, Barca has not yet reopened negotiations for Lo Celso, despite Xavi’s persistent pressure on his superiors to sign the midfielder.
A transfer is improbable given that the publication notes that the Argentine might be “essential” for Ange Postecoglou next month due to Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr’s attendance at AFCON.
