Ex-Tottenham star Giovani Lo Celso’s superb start for Real Betis has seen him equal Kylian Mbappe in the scoring charts.
The Argentine is in the midst of a sensational run of goalscoring form having netted five goals in his last four games.
His exploits has seen him match former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe who has also netted five times in La Liga this term.
Lo Celso has scored each one of Betis’ last five goals including Sunday’s later winner at home to Espanyol.
Betis’ move to sign the Argentine late in the summer transfer window is now proving to be a master stroke that has helped his side climb to eighth in the table.
The midfielder has made just four starts this season but has made a huge impact for Manuel Pelligrini’s side.
His heroics have earned Betis six of their 12 points accumulated so far this campaign and has netted 63 per cent of his side’s goals.
Lo Celso sits joint third in the LaLiga scoring charts, two goals behind leader Robert Lewandowski, one behind Ayoze Perez and tied with Mbappe and Barcelona’s Raphinha.
Following Sunday’s late winner, Pelligrini reserved high praise for the Argentine and compared him to some of the legendary names he has managed throughout the years.
“The goals have eclipsed everything he does in the game,” Pelligrini told Marca. “He is constantly asking for the ball and gives it to his teammate with an advantage.
“To all this he has added the rate of goals. Everything that we could have lost we have recovered with the goals he has scored.
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“He has adapted quickly and personally, players I have had like Isco, Lo Celso, Riquelme or Cazorla are the ones who have to take responsibility for the last pass. He has adapted brilliantly,” he told Marca.
Lo Celso, who is into his second spell at Betis, spent four years at Tottenham after a successful loan spell in 2019.
However, after struggling to tie down a starting place in north London, Lo Celso spent two seasons on loan at Villarreal before returning to Spurs last season.
Injury forced the midfielder out of Argentina’s World Cup triumph in 2022 despite being a key component of Lionel Scaloni’s side during the qualifying campaign.
He was instrumental in Argentina securing back-to-back Copa America titles and was once hailed as the ‘best player in the national team’ by captain Lionel Messi.
