Tottenham agree £7.8m transfer for star Messi compared to Barca legend | Football | Sport

Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement to offload Alejo Veliz following the striker spending the last two years out on loan. The 23-year-old arrived at Spurs from Rosario Central for £13million in the summer of 2023 and has just two goals in 10 appearances for the north London outfit.

Following spells with Sevilla and Espanyol, Veliz returned to Rosario on loan for this season last summer, and since rejoining his former club, the Argentine has netted six goals in 19 outings. When his loan spell concludes, Veliz is poised to join Brazilian side Bahia, after agreeing terms on Thursday, football.london reports. It is believed the fee will be around £7.8m with £871k in add-ons plus a 20 per cent sell-on clause included in any future transfer.

Veliz’s proposed permanent departure from Spurs comes two-and-a-half years after Lionel Messi heaped praise on the forward and likened his style of play to that of Luis Suarez. Discussing Argentina’s finest young talents in September 2023, Messi said: “[Roman] Vega, [Maximo] Perrone, and especially Veliz.

“Watching him [Veliz] play reminds me of what Suarez used to play like. I am very excited for the future of this country, and hope I can be an influence on these people and talk to them.”

Thus far, Veliz has not quite matched the lofty expectations set by Messi, with the striker born in 2003 yet to earn a senior cap for Argentina. He has, though, represented his country at the under-20 level, making nine appearances.

As Veliz is due to remain at Rosario for the remainder of this campaign, he will have the privilege of lining up alongside another Argentine in Angel Di Maria. The former Manchester United winger agreed last May to rejoin his boyhood club following Benfica’s participation in last year’s Club World Cup.

Before Veliz’s return to Rosario materialised, Di Maria reached out on several occasions. “Ever since it went viral that I was returning to Central, Angel and I exchanged messages,” Veliz disclosed at his unveiling press conference.

“And when he said, ‘Come on, you’re missing now,’ it’s truly a driving force that pushes you forward, and I was crazy and wanted to come right away. What we wanted happened, and I’m very happy to be here.”

He continued: “Having this, my family nearby, my grandparents, is what fulfils me, what completes me. I don’t feel like I am here anywhere else. I came back to be able to fulfil myself.”