Tottenham Hotspur recently sold midfielder Giovani Lo Celso to Real Betis for £8.4 million. As part of this deal, Tottenham secured a first option to buy Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso in the summer of 2025 for £21 million.
However, AC Milan are now showing interest in Cardoso as well. Milan have lost midfielder Ismael Bennacer to injury for the rest of 2024 and are looking for midfield reinforcements. They reportedly intend to initiate contact with Real Betis about Cardoso.
Cardoso was on Milan’s transfer wishlist in the summer but a move didn’t materialize then. The 22-year-old American international performed well for Betis last season, scoring one goal and providing two assists in 17 La Liga appearances.
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While Milan may pursue Cardoso in January, Tottenham have an advantage due to the clause they negotiated as part of the Lo Celso deal. This gives Spurs the ability to block any potential transfer of Cardoso to Milan in January if they choose to do so.
Tottenham view Cardoso as a potential backup option for midfielder Yves Bissouma in the future. The club will continue monitoring Cardoso’s performances at Betis this season to evaluate his development and determine if they want to trigger their option to sign him in 2025.
New USA national team manager Mauricio Pochettino could play a role in Cardoso’s potential move to Tottenham. The club reportedly hopes Pochettino can help ensure Cardoso ends up being a bargain signing for Spurs.
This situation reflects the complex nature of modern football transfers, with clubs like Tottenham trying to secure future options on promising players as part of current deals. It also shows how injuries at one club (Milan) can have ripple effects on the transfer plans of others.
For Tottenham, securing first option on Cardoso was likely seen as a way to potentially replace Lo Celso in the future if the Argentine midfielder performs well at Betis. It gives Spurs flexibility to strengthen their midfield down the road at a pre-agreed price.
The article notes that Cardoso is a defensive midfielder, born in Brazil but representing the USA internationally. His performances at Betis will be closely watched by Tottenham’s scouting team over the coming year.
Tottenham’s interest in Cardoso and their efforts to secure an option on him demonstrate the club’s forward-thinking approach to transfers. Rather than just selling Lo Celso, they used the deal to potentially set up a future signing that could benefit the team.
For Cardoso, this situation presents both opportunity and uncertainty. While having Tottenham interested is surely positive, the potential interest from Milan adds another dimension. His performances this season could significantly impact his future, potentially leading to a move to a major club like Spurs or Milan.
The involvement of Pochettino adds another interesting layer. As the new USA manager, he will have a vested interest in Cardoso’s development. If Pochettino believes a move to Tottenham would benefit both Cardoso and the US national team, he may encourage the player in that direction.
