Loaned to Fiorentina from Barcelona, Cristian Tello enjoyed a successful period in Italy during the second half of last season.
Mundo Deportivo have a small column looking at what could happen in the 24-year-old’s future, and the Spanish newspaper state Tello was very close to a move to Southampton… when Ronald Koeman was in charge.
Since then, the Dutch manager jumped ship to sign with cash friendly Everton, and a move to the Premier League seems like a distant memory for the Barcelona player.
Recent reports in England, acknowledged by Mundo, claimed new Southampton man Claude Puel was keen on reigniting the interest, but the Barcelona friendly media make it clear that Koeman was the ‘key’ for the Tello transfer to happen.
As for where he might end up now, Fiorentina are said to have made an offer, while Valencia would be interested, but only if Barcelona paid for some of his wages.
Perhaps Puel will prove convincing, like Koeman was. We’ll have to wait and see, but this transfer is looking like a distant memory, at least from Spain’s point of view.
