Tottenham Hotspur took Giovani Lo Celso on loan from Real Betis for a season back in the summer when the club was still managed by fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino.
It was a rocky start to his Spurs career for the playmaker as he was hit with injury and a change of manager, both of which slowed his route into the starting line-up.
However, Lo Celso has now impressed in a Lilywhite shirt so much that many would rank him as one of the first names on the team sheet these days.
Lo Celso was perhaps Tottenham’s best player in both of their last two games against Norwich City and Southampton.
Spurs announced this month that they had decided to take the option to sign Lo Celso permanently earlier than first expected from Real Betis, meaning he is now a full-time Tottenham player (BBC).
Jose Mourinho believes that this decision was made long before he arrived as the new head coach in late November.
Charlie Eccleshare reports Jose said:
On Lo Celso: I think the decision was made even before I arrived. It was one of those loans where the club believe he will be signed.
The decision was made more or less last summer. Then he wasn’t playing, but when he started playing he is adapting to different matches.
— Charlie Eccleshare (@CDEccleshare) January 31, 2020