Lo Celso admits that he could have joined Everton in the past

Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso has revealed that he once turned down the opportunity to sign for Everton, as reports Football.London.

The Argentina international joined Spurs on loan from Real Betis in the summer, committing to a season-long arrangement with the option to make it permanent at the end of the season.

Football.London report that Spurs fans must surely hope to see the 23-year soon tied down to a long-term contract in London, with the midfielder having impressed off the bench in recent times under Jose Mourinho.

Speaking to the club’s match-day programme (via Football.London), Lo Celso admitted that it all could have been different however, with Everton once interested in him during his early days with Rosario Central. Lo Celso said:

During my time with Rosario, there was interest from England, Everton were interested, but I was very young and my dream, and that of my family, was for me to begin my career in the first team of Rosario Central, because it was my boyhood club.

After that of course I considered the possibility of playing in Europe. I feel lucky that I have been able to fulfil my first dream of playing for Rosario.

I can look back to when I started to where I am playing now and I am very grateful for these opportunities I have had so far in my life.

They are not things that happen to all players, so I try to take advantage of it and enjoy it a lot.

Read Everton Verdict

Lo Celso’s claim of Everton’s interest pre-dates his time with Paris Saint-Germain and Real Betis, so there was no real telling at that stage of his career what type of player he would become, and how much Everton had actually engaged their interest.

For all we know, Everton could have made brief contact to sound out the possibility of a deal, or they could have been going for him with a strong desire to sign a bright young talent.

Lo Celso has struggled with injury issues this season, missing a number of Premier League games due to a hip problem (Transfermarkt), while he has also only start twice in his 12 appearances in the league (WhoScored). While he may have impressed some at Tottenham, Lo Celso has hardly pulled up trees on a regular basis this season, and even if he had, Everton were interested in an entirely different player who has only become what he has due to his specific circumstances. Therefore, I don’t think you can argue that Everton ‘lost out’ on failing to convince the midfielder into a Goodison Park move in the past.