Tottenham Hotspur’s Giovani Lo Celso has opened up about his disappointment over missing out on the Argentina squad for the World Cup, during an interview with TyC Sports.
The 26-year-old joined Villarreal on loan in January 2022 and last summer his temporary stay there was extended until the end of this season.
The Tottenham owned player picked up an injury in the Yellow Submarine’s league defeat to Athletic Club Bilbao last October and it forced him to go under the knife. This prevented him from representing his country in Qatar.
Lo Celso regained full fitness earlier this month and was included in Lionel Scaloni’s squad for March’s international break. The midfielder registered two assists in Argentina’s 7-0 win over Curaçao in a friendly clash on Tuesday.
After the tie, Lo Celso explained the emotions he went through when he was made aware he wouldn’t be able to play at the World Cup.
“When I found out that the injury prevented me from playing in the World Cup, that I had to have an operation, I spent three or four days in which all I did was cry in the bathroom, but life gives and takes away, it gave me the birth of my daughter,” he said.
“Then I wanted to be with the team, with them, and I was able to experience everything, the birth of my daughter and then celebrate with my teammates,” he said.
“If it was up to me, I would go to the World Cup on one leg, but I had to have surgery, many months of recovery.
“When I saw that in the previous friendly, they came out with a banner, I began to cry alone in my house and I realised what it meant to be in the national team. Eternally grateful to my teammates for all the gestures and displays of affection they had with me.”
The Tottenham man has also expressed his delight over representing La Albiceleste in their latest friendly win.
“It is a very exciting moment for me, to put on this shirt again, which is the most beautiful of all. To enjoy again with my teammates on the field after many months. With an injury this long, you have very hard times. I tried to enjoy it to the fullest, again with the group, with the team and with our people. It was a reason for celebration for everyone,” Lo Celso explained.
“Life, like football, gives revenge. When I had no other option but to have an operation, I had to turn the page. In all this time, the only thing I thought about was putting on this shirt again and enjoying what it was today.
“Playing in the Argentine national team is the ultimate dream of every player and today I am grateful to life for giving me this opportunity. Grateful to the coaching staff and the players.”
Lo Celso has managed one goal from 18 matches in all competitions this season for the La Liga side.
Tottenham will hope he impresses between now and the end of the season, so they can raise some money with his sale or potentially present him to their next permanent manager.
