According to reports out of Spain, the Herons have set their sights on Giovani Lo Celso. Even more encouraging for the Miami faithful? Real Betis are reportedly prepared to let the Argentine playmaker leave for a fee in the neighborhood of €5 million.

Local reports suggest that the relationship between the player and the club has cooled. Journalist Gonzalo de la Haza noted on Sevillanía TV that manager Manuel Pellegrini may be looking to move on from the Argentine midfielder.

“He has received an offer. He’s thinking about it and Betis will let him leave because I think Pellegrini has partly grown tired of Lo Celso,” de la Haza explained. “Pellegrini isn’t willing to give him minutes just because there’s a World Cup on the horizon”.

The initial connection between Lo Celso and Inter Miami reportedly sparked back in October, when the midfielder joined several Argentina teammates to watch Lionel Messi take on Atlanta United while the national team was on tour in the U.S. Since then, negotiations have gained momentum, and a formal offer meeting Betis’ expectations is expected soon.

Searching for consistency

Lo Celso’s diminished role in Seville has become impossible to ignore. The 29-year-old has failed to crack the starting XI in any of Betis‘ last five La Liga matches.

Since late November, he has seen a mere handful of minutes as a substitute against teams like Rayo Vallecano and Getafe, while remaining an unused sub in a marquee matchup against Barcelona.

The road to the 2026 World Cup runs through Miami

For Lo Celso, a move to South Florida represents a guaranteed starting role and a chance to remain a fixture in Lionel Scaloni’s plans for the 2026 World Cup. As Messi has previously alluded to, the MLS calendar offers a strategic advantage for aging stars and national team staples, allowing players to arrive at major summer tournaments with less physical wear and tear compared to those grinding through the grueling European season.

“Tests conducted on Giovani Lo Celso confirmed that the Argentine international has suffered a moderate-grade injury to the middle third of the soleus muscle in his right leg,” Real Betis announced on their official website on Tuesday. “His reintegration into the squad will be determined by his recovery progress.”

Lo Celso had been part of the starting lineup in last Sunday’s match against Real Sociedad. However, he was forced off the field at halftime, with Marc Roca replacing him. Despite his early exit, Betis went on to secure a comfortable 3-0 win at home.

While the Spanish side has not provided a timeline for the midfielder’s return, the nature of his injury and its recurrence in recent years make a quick recovery unlikely. As such, it’s expected that Lo Celso will miss several La Liga and UEFA Conference League matches. At the same time, his participation with Argentina during the March international break is now in doubt.

Lo Celso battles recurring injuries

Giovani Lo Celso’s recent career has been plagued by recurring injuries. A key player for Argentina and a creative partner to Lionel Messi ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he was forced to undergo surgery due to a severe muscle injury just weeks before the tournament, which ended his chances of being part of the squad that ultimately claimed the title.

Since then, Lo Celso has struggled with consistency at the club level, playing for Villarreal, Tottenham Hotspur, and now Real Betis, largely due to ongoing physical issues. Earlier this season, he was sidelined with a muscle injury incurred while playing for Argentina, which kept him out of action for nearly a month with his club. Now, with March qualifiers on the horizon, Gio faces further uncertainty about his fitness.

Argentina face two crucial matches ahead

Having already played 12 of the 18 qualifiers, Argentina are on the verge of securing their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With 25 points from eight wins, one draw, and three losses, they lead the South American standings and hold a five-point advantage over Uruguay, their nearest rival.

On March 21, Lionel Messi and his teammates will kick off their 2025 campaign with a key match against Uruguay in Montevideo—a fixture that could prove vital in maintaining their lead at the top of the table. Four days later, Argentina will host Brazil at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. Should Argentina secure strong results in these two matches, they could already be on their way to sealing qualification for the 2026 tournament.

After a dominant 6-0 win over Bolivia in Buenos Aires, with Lionel Messi leading the charge, Argentina remain atop the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. However, the victory was tempered by news that Giovani Lo Celso will be sidelined due to injury.

Lo Celso didn’t play in the Bolivia match, having experienced discomfort after starting against Venezuela. Real Betis later confirmed he sustained “a moderate myotendinous injury to the rectus femoris of his right hamstring.”

According to Relevo, Lo Celso is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks, meaning he’s likely to miss action until after the next international break. This is a big setback for Betis, who have also lost Isco Alarcon until at least late November.

Since returning to Betis from Tottenham this summer, the 28-year-old has netted five goals in six appearances. Manuel Pellegrini will likely turn to Pablo Fornals to fill the void left by Lo Celso.

Lo Celso has had his share of injuries. He missed the 2022 World Cup with Argentina after undergoing surgery for a hamstring issue, and prior to that, he missed several games for Tottenham with a knee problem. However, he had remained healthy until this latest setback.

Which matches will Lo Celso miss?

Lo Celso’s absence is a blow for both Real Betis and Argentina. He will miss key LaLiga matches against rivals like Atletico Madrid, Athletic Club, and Valencia, as well as crucial Europa Conference League fixtures.

Meanwhile, La Albiceleste will have to play without him in the upcoming November fixture. In the last international break, Argentina will visit Paraguay on Nov. 14, and then host Peru on Nov. 19.

Chile, on the other hand, has a chance to climb the standings despite a poor 1-3-2 record, sitting in eighth place, as almost seven of Conmebol’s 10 teams could reach the World Cup.

Argentina will be without Lionel Messi, whose famous number 10 kit has been assigned to Roma’s Paulo Dybala. Angel Di María’s famous number 11 kit has also been assigned.

Who will wear Angel Di María’s number 11 kit?

According to TyC Sports reporter Gastón Edul, Betis’s Giovani Lo Celso will wear Angel Di María’s famous number 11 kit. Di María retired from the Argentine national team after winning the 2024 Copa América last summer.

Unlike Di María, Lo Celso plays in the middle of the midfield rather than on the wings and is known for more defensive duties. Scaloni also has Alejandro Garnacho and Valentín Barco available for the left-sided wing position.

Angel Di María played 145 games for Argentina and scored 35 goals. He won four titles with Argentina, including two Copa Américas and one FIFA World Cup.

They won’t be allowed to use the same tactic this season due to a change in La Liga’s financial fair play regulations. If they want to improve the club yet stay below the league’s spending rules, they will have to offload players, cut the payroll, and find other sources of income.

Therefore, they are exploring a wide range of potential outcomes, from ideal to worst, as well as a variety of cost-effective options. The number one desired player was Lionel Messi, who eventually ended up signing with Inter Miami of the MLS.

Report: Lionel Messi urged Xavi Hernandez to sign Giovani Lo Celso

Even if Lionel Messi was unable to fulfill his desire and return to Barcelona, he evidently did not leave the club empty-handed. According to a report in the Spanish daily Diario AS, the Qatar 2022 winner once told Xavi that Giovani Lo Celso is the finest player on the Argentina national team.

Xavi has been a fan of the player ever since and has followed him through stops at Paris Saint-Germain, Real Betis, Tottenham, and most recently, on loan at Villarreal. After several years, the chat with Messi appears to have prompted the now-Barcelona coach to advise his club to explore a transfer for the player.

The report adds that the 43-year-old manager thinks Lo Celso would be a terrific addition to his Blaugrana squad because he is a multi-talented player who would strengthen his midfield and, most importantly, offer some much-needed depth and creativity.

Because of the uncertainty surrounding Lo Celso’s future with Tottenham, he may be available for transfer. If Barcelona can afford him and get him registered, they will reportedly try to make a deal for the 27-year-old.

The Catalan club comes from a great season, in which they became LaLiga champions for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign. However, they left much to be desired in the UEFA Champions League.

Xavi has already brought back glory days to Camp Nou, but now his goal is to make Barça relevant again in Europe. Therefore, the club could be active in the upcoming transfer window and Giovani Lo Celso would be a top target.

Report: Xavi wants to add Giovani Lo Celso to his Barcelona squad

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona manager sees in Lo Celso the perfect playmaker to set up goal opportunities for Robert Lewandowski. At 27, this could be a great moment to get the Argentine midfielder.

Though he’s under contract with Tottenham until 2025, the Premier League club sent him on loan to Villarreal the last two seasons. It remains to be seen, though, whether newly-appointed Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou wants Lo Celso to stay.

The former PSG player was a pivotal member of the Argentine national team ahead of Qatar 2022, but he missed the World Cup due to injury. Regardless, Xavi seems to have taken note of his progress.

The Copa America won by Argentina broke more than 20 years of absence of Argentine titles. In addition, their participation in the qualifiers was also very good, reaching second place only behind Brazil and qualifying for Qatar 2022 several Matchdays before the end of the Conmebol qualifiers.

An important part of this process was Giovani Lo Celso, who was highly regarded by coach Lionel Scaloni not only for his performances in the Argentine team, but also for his great moment at Villarreal. However, he will not go to the World Cup and here we tell you why.

Why is Giovani Lo Celso missing the Qatar 2022 World Cup?

In the game between Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal, Giovani Lo Celso suffered a muscle detachment that will take him away in a period of 6 to 8 weeks. It was first thought to be a Grade 1 tear to the biceps in his right leg, so within three weeks it was speculated that he might be available. However, when this injury was confirmed, the Argentine was ruled out for Qatar.

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The former PSG midfielder went to the 2018 Russia World Cup but didn’t play a single minute in a tournament that every Argentine fan would rather forget. Things would change after that.

Scaloni has given more opportunities to Lo Celso and he didn’t let him down. Now he’s established in the squad but is unavailable for the final double-fixture of the South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022.

Why is Lo Celso not playing for Argentina in the March international window?

To explain the reason behind his absence, we have to go back to the game in Brazil in 2021. That day, local health authorities interrupted the game as they claimed that Lo Celso and other three Argentine players have broken the Covid protocol in entering the country.

FIFA has later decided that the game not only should be resumed but also that the four players in question (Lo Celso, Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, and Emiliano Buendia) should receive a suspension.

Like the rest of the suspended players, Giovani Lo Celso was banned for two international games, which is why he’s ineligible for the March double-fixture.

Tottenham Hotspur, who are enjoying the beginning of a new era under Antonio Conte, have shaken things upin the final day of the winter transfer market. However, they were not the only ones to get into business. Barcelona took all the spotlight by landingPierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal in a last-minutesigning.

Frank Lampard hasalso had a pretty busy first day at work at the Goodison Park. Everton not only have hired their new manager but they also made big moves before the transfer window was over. Here, check out the best signings of the winter transfer deadline day.

Julian Alvarez – River Plate to Manchester City ($19 million)

Manchester City have acquired the services of Argentinian sensation Julian Alvarez. The 22-year-old forward has had a fantastic breakthrough at River Plate and seemedready to take his game to Europe. The Premier League champions have signed him for a reported fee of $19 million in a five-and-a-half year deal that will see Alvarez stay at least for another six months on loan at River before moving to England. ‘The Spider’ has 36 goals in 96 appearances for El Millonario, while he already has five caps with Argentina and was part of the 2021 Copa America winning roster.

Christian Eriksen – Brentford (FreeTransfer)

Great news for world soccer as Christian Eriksen will return to play professional soccer for Brentford in the Premier League seven months after he suffered acardiac arrest during Denmark‘s game against Finland in the Euros. Eriksen had previously rescinded his contract with Inter Milan as he was not allowed to play in the Serie A with a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) device.

Tanguy Ndombele – Tottenham to Olympique Lyon (Loan with option to sign)

Two and a half years after becoming Tottenham Hotspur’srecord signing for $66 million, Tanguy Ndombele has returned to Olympique Lyon on loan for the remainder of the season. The Ligue 1 club has an option to make the move permanent for $73 million.

Dejan Kulusevski – Juventus to Tottenham (Loan with obligation to sign)

Tottenham, meanwhile, have completed the signing of Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus on loan until the end of the season. The English side will also have an obligation to sign the Swedish winger in the summer for a reported$39 million. Kulusevski, 21, has two goals and three assists in 27 appearances across all competitions for the Old Lady this term.

Rodrigo Bentancur – Juventus to Tottenham ($20.90million)

Tottenham have also signed Uruguay international Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus in a permanent move for a reported $20.90 million- to be payable over the next three years – plus another $7m in add-ons. Bentancur, 24, has spent four and a half years in Turin since he made a $23m move from Boca Juniors in 2017. He has 46 caps for Uruguay.

Giovani Lo Celso – Tottenham to Villarreal (Loan)

Tottenham have also been involved in the Deadline Day by sending Argentina international Giovani Lo Celso on loan to Villarreal until the end of the season. The 25-year-old has had a loan spell in La Liga with Betis in the 2018-19 season, where he enjoyed a lot of playing time and played at a great level. Unai Emery was reportedly keen on having him at the Yellow Submarine.

Donny van de Beek – Manchester United to Everton (Loan)

Perhaps one of the most shocking moves ofDeadline Day. Manchester United outcast Donny van de Beek has joined Everton on loan for the remainder of the season hoping to find the playing minutes he’s been lacking at Old Trafford since his $43 million move from Ajax in the summer of 2020.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Arsenal to Barcelona (Free transfer, Gunnerssavewage)

Nothing has been the same forPierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal after he signed a new contract in the summer of 2020. The Gabonese star’s performances went downhill and this season he hit rock bottom, being stripped of the captaincy andseparated from the squad. Barcelona seized on his situation to upgrade their attack without spending too much, hoping that Aubameyang can get back to his best under Xavi Hernandez.

Dele Alli – Tottenham to Everton(Undisclosed fee)

Another name that Frank Lampard can erase from his wishlist as Everton have granted the new manager his desire to bring in Tottenham outcastDele Alli. The English midfielder use to be one of the most promising players in the league back in the day but he slowly began to lose his place in the Spurs’ lineup. Will he turn his career around with the Toffees?

Other Deadline Day signings:

• Denis Zakaria – Borussia Monchengladbach to Juventus ($5.6 million, $3.37m in add-ons)
• Wout Weghorst – Wolfsburg to Burnley ($16.85 million)
• George Bello – Atlanta United to Arminia Bielefeld (Undisclosed fee)
• Matt Targett – Aston Villa to Newcastle United (Loan)
• Bryan Gil – Tottenham to Valencia (Loan)
• Auston Trusty – Colorado Rapids to Arsenal (Undisclosed fee)
• Aaron Ramsey– Juventus to Rangers (Loan)
• Dan Burn– Brighton to Newcastle ($16.85 million)
• Todd Cantwell– Norwich to Bournemouth (Loan)