Real Betis confirm permanent signing of Giovani Lo Celso from PSG
Real Betis have taken up their option to sign PSG’s Giovani Lo Celso on a permanent deal.
The midfielder has been on loan with the La Liga side since the start of the season and has been a big hit in Spain, scoring 15 goals and recording four assists so far.
Lo Celso makes permanent Betis move: Five key things to know…
- Lo Celso joined PSG from Rosario Central for £8.5m in 2016.
- The Argentine made 54 appearances for the Parisians but struggled to make an impact.
- He was loaned to Real Betis at the start of this season.
- Despite links to Real Madrid and Barca, Betis have triggered their option to sign him on a permanent deal for £19m.
- Lo Celso has 15 goals and four assists for Betis so far this season.
Betis had inserted an option to buy into Lo Celso’s loan deal, believed to be in the region of £19m (€22m), which the club have now confirmed they have triggered.
Their full statement translated to: “Real Betis Balompié has exercised the option to buy Giovani Lo Celso, until now a player of Paris Saint-Germain. We have made effective the definitive transfer of the Argentine midfielder, who signs a new contract to continue in Heliopolis until 2023.
“Giovani Lo Celso arrived at Real Betis earlier this season, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. Since then, the Rosario midfielder has emerged as one of the pillars of the team.
“This season, Lo Celso has played a total of 40 games with the green and white shirt, in which he has scored 15 goals and four assists. Currently, he is the top goal scorer in all competitions.”
Betis are currently ninth in La Liga, having lost 3-2 to rivals Sevilla last time out, and host Valencia on Sunday.
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Lo Celso ‘focused on Betis’ despite Madrid and Barca links
Prior to making his move to Betis permanent, Lo Celso had been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid or Barcelona, such has been his form for the Andalusian side.
However, the 10-time Argentina international has maintained he is ‘focused’ on Betis and is fully behind manager Quique Setien’s style of play.
“I do not know if Madrid or Barça asked for me, I focus on Betis,” Lo Celso told France Football (via Football Espana).
DONE DEAL: @RealBetis have confirmed the permanent signing of Giovani Lo Celso from PSG on a deal until 2023. pic.twitter.com/rBSmA6eelr
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) April 16, 2019
“At Betis, I feel very comfortable with the style of football and how we play, the Coach’s idea of football is something that I like.
“I knew I was coming to one of the most competitive leagues in the world and I feel very comfortable in Spain, it is better suited to an Argentine than France is.
“Here it is much more similar, especially because of the language – it is different of course but very nice.”
