Tottenham will have the first option to sign Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso in the summer of 2025
Tottenham Hotspur finally managed to offload Giovani Lo Celso on the transfer deadline day, selling the creative midfielder to Real Betis for a fee in the region of £3.3m. This saw the 2024 Copa America winner return to Real Betis he left permanently in January 2020.
The deal for Giovani Lo Celso was partly done to secure the signing of United States international Johnny Cardoso. During the talks for the Lo Celso deal, the La Liga side accepted an offer for Johnny Cardoso that can be triggered for a £21m fee. The timeframe for Spurs’ option to trigger that clause will last for only two weeks during the 2025 summer transfer window, with other clubs able to compete for the player’s signature when it expires.
And going by a recent development, Tottenham may feel themselves a bit more optimistic. According to a report from GIVEMESPORT, Spurs are hoping that their decision to negotiate a £21m deal for Cardoso will work wonders thanks to the recent appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as the USMNT head coach ahead of the Real Betis man’s potential arrival in North London in 2025.
Spurs are well-placed to have the first option to acquire Cardoso if other clubs show interest in him, and having already agreed with Betis for a future transfer, Ange Postecoglou and Co. will be relying on Mauricio Pochettino to hone the midfielder’s skill set as he seeks cover and competition for players at his disposal.
Pochettino enjoyed an extremely productive spell between 2014 to 2019 at the Hotspur Way. Under the Argentinean tactician’s guidance, Spurs grew as a force, rubbed shoulder-to-shoulder with the best teams in the Premier League and Europe and played in
the Champions League final in 2018. He brought a winning mentality, gave the team an identity and nurtured so many young talents and homegrown products during his time at the club.
The aforementioned report claims Spurs bosses feel Pochettino is the perfect appointment for the United States as they aim to evaluate Cardoso’s development over the next 12 months and consider whether they should activate the option to buy him from Betis.
So, Tottenham are optimistic that Cardoso mightily profits from Pochettino taking charge of the USA side as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup as one of the host nations. The 22-year-old has made two La Liga appearances so far this season, clocking just 46 minutes for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
-> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins
Cardoso will make sure that he is keen to make an impact for the USA and catch the eye of Pochettino during October’s international break.
