'Lionel Messi rated me but Tottenham didn't – I’ve just shown them what they're missing'

Former Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso enjoyed a dream Real Betis comeback, netting a superb brace for the La Liga outfit. Snapped up by Betis for just £4million before the transfer deadline, the Argentinian, 28, penned a three-year deal with an option to extend.

On Wednesday, he dazzled fans by striking twice in the second half to seal a 2-0 victory over Getafe, his first start for the club in over five years. Meanwhile, Tottenham, who are still licking their wounds following their north London derby defeat to Arsenal, managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Coventry in the Carabao Cup.

After the match, Lo Celso couldn’t hide his elation, telling reporters: “I’m happy with the win, it was important to get three points against a tough opponent.

“It was a very big relief, we ended up suffering a little more than necessary, but we added three points that put us up there. This is the way to go.”

His move from Betis to Tottenham in 2018, initially on loan before a £27m permanent transfer, came with high expectations. Sections of the Spanish media even tipped Lo Celso as Lionel Messi’s potential successor at Barcelona after the football icon’s unexpected exit in 2021.

Lo Celso was even hailed by Messi himself as the finest midfielder Argentina had to offer at the time. However, he ultimately didn’t fit into Ange Postecoglou’s plans at Spurs, although he insisted enjoyed playing under the Australian for a spell last season.

After playing a bigger role in late autumn, Lo Celso said: “I was really grateful for his belief in me, so I worked hard and showed every day that I wanted to be here and play.

“I’ve felt really comfortable in training and in the way he coaches. I love his idea of football which gave me the belief that I could find a place in his team. The coaching staff have helped as well as my teammates.

“It’s a personal challenge for my career, but the coach’s plan and philosophy is helping me improve my game because he asks me and wants me to do specific things in my role. Things have been going great. He’s made me feel very confident and comfortable since he joined.”

Despite that praise, Lo Celso’s 2023/24 season saw just 24 appearances, with numerous brief cameos off the bench. That lack of sustained involvement and clarity about his future seemingly contributed to his departure.

Despite fluctuating fortunes at club level, Lo Celso has had a key role in the Argentine national side for seven years, amassing 59 appearances and contributing significantly to their back-to-back Copa America victories in 2021 and 2024. He missed his country’s World Cup triumph in Qatar because of injury.