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Giovani Lo Celso facing fight to salvage Tottenham career amid worrying trend
The Argentinean has struggled since joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2020.
Brazil-Argentina qualifier suspended after health officials enter pitch
Tottenham supporters may have grown accustomed to Giovani Lo Celso getting intercepted in the midfield. But even they would have been shocked by the way in which he was closed down by Brazilian officials.
Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Brazil was abandoned after Brazilian health officials stunningly stormed the pitch mid-game and confronted Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, and Lo Celso.
The Premier League trio left the field of play while Lionel Messi and the individuals from the bench stood baffled at the side of the pitch.
President of Brazil’s health agency Anvisa confirmed the three players along with Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia will be fined and deported for not following the protocols, which state arrivals from the UK must quarantine in Brazil for 14 days upon arrival.
Spurs pair Romero and Lo Celso will be returning to a furious Daniel Levy.
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Spurs allegedly forbid the two players from traveling to Brazil for the match, and the two players will most likely face disciplinary procedures from the North Londoners.
While Romero will have time to redeem himself, this incident is another frustrating episode for Lo Celso.
The 25-year-old midfielder has struggled since joining Spurs from Real Betis for £28m in 2020.
One goal and three assists in 28 Premier League matches is not a satisfactory return for a player of his calibre.
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While he has enjoyed some good spells of form, particularly under Jose Mourinho, consistency has been hard to come by for the former Paris Saint-Germain star.
He is the latest Argentinean player to have joined Spurs and struggled to make an impact.
It is strangely ironic, considering it was Tottenham’s acquisitions of World Cup winners Ossie Ardiles and Ricardo Villa in 1978, which shocked the footballing world and paved the way for more foreign players to arrive in England.
The two players became two of the most important players in Spurs history, inspiring the Lilywhites to two FA Cup final wins in 1981 and 1982.
Unfortunately, Spurs’ most recent Argentinean signings have enjoyed no such luck, with the likes of Erik Lamela, Juan Foyth, Federico Fazio, and Paulo Gazzaniga all struggling with the North Londoners.