Spurs’ £22 million disaster is now “utterly pointless” when compared to Grealish.
Tottenham blew it when they paid £22 million for this player.
It would be a fair assessment to state that every signing made by Tottenham Hotspur this summer since Ange Postecoglou’s appointment has either had an impact or hinted to a bright future.
Even Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski, who were both on loan previous to the current season but are now permanent arrivals, are crucial components of a resurrected squad.
It’s a long cry from Spurs’ previous mediocrity, with the club only qualifying for the Champions League once in four seasons under Mauricio Pochettino.
The Premier League club has had its fair share of transfer disasters, with Bryan Gil being one of the most disappointing, with the Spanish winger being hailed for huge things upon his arrival but never really hitting his stride.
When was Bryan Gil signed by Tottenham?
Tottenham signed Gil from La Liga side Sevilla in 2021 for a reported sum of £22 million, with Erik Lamela travelling in the opposite direction.
After finishing eighth in the 2020/21 season, the bright teenager was believed to be a major upgrade on Lamela and possessed a set of qualities that might be fashioned into something wonderful.
Gil, who was 20 at the time of his arrival, had just four goals and four assists after spending the majority of the season on loan with Eibar and starting 26 league matches, earning praise from ESPN’s David Cartlidge, who called him a “potential star in the making.”
According to Sofascore, his 26 starts earned him an average match rating of 7.04, with 78% of his passes completed, 1.8 crucial passes per game averaged, and 55% of his dribbles won.
Gil was regarded one of Spain’s most coveted prospects when he joined the Lilywhites, alongside Ansu Fati and Pedri, and was even compared to Jack Grealish owing to his improvisational playing style.
Grealish, regarded as a “phenomenal talent” for the Lions by former player Kieran Richardson, was about to seal a British-record £100 million transfer to Manchester City from hometown club Aston Villa, having clinched seven goals and 12 assists during his final season in the Midlands.
According to FBref, the England international is in the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers for pass completion over the last year, the top 3% for progressive carries, and the top 14% for assists per 90.
Gil’s flexibility and ability to light up fixtures fueled comparisons to England’s starboy, but the 22-year-old has only flattered to deceive since joining in the Premier League.
How good is Bryan Gil these days?
Gil quickly became clear that he was not performing at the required level for a regular starting berth in Spurs’ first-team, earning only nine substitute appearances in the Premier League and not starting a match before being loaned out to Valencia – a move branded “utterly pointless” by Spurs expert John Wenham.
While technically outstanding, there were legitimate worries about the ace’s physicality and ability to affect matches outside of short bursts, therefore it was felt that his growth would be best served outside of the English top division.
Gil has only scored two goals in all competitions for Tottenham, both of which came last season on loan with Sevilla, and while he is currently in Postecoglou’s squad, he has yet to play – though he was on the bench during the recent victory over Luton Town.
After missing the first half of the season due to injury, the £40k-per-week prodigy could reignite his stalling career in the coming months.
But, based on the evidence thus far, he is not up to the task, and it feels like a lifetime ago that this speedy weaver came in London with the world at his feet.
