According to Bryan Gil’s father, Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli spent no fewer than three years chasing the Tottenham Hotspur loanee, having tried to sign the Spain U21 international at Marseille before his deadline day switch to Andalusia last month.
Given the impact Gil has made since his return to La Liga, one can only suggest that the so-called ‘Beatle of Barbate’ has been worth the wait; Gil helping Sevilla take ‘The Long and Winding Road’ to survival.
The former Valencia schemer marked his first start with a goal on Saturday afternoon, sealing a 2-0 victory over Real Mallorca while lifting a Sevilla side who have spent much of this season stuck in the relegation zone up to the dizzying heights of 12th.
Bryan Gil makes immediate impact after leaving Tottenham for Sevilla
“He defended as a fifth defender and attacked as a winger,” Sampaoli beams, Gil having made a substantial impact at both ends of the pitch while shining on the left-hand side (Marca).
“Bryan, in his previous teams, played as an inverted winger (cutting in from the right). Here, we see many conditions for him to play and help. In the 3-1-6 formation, he linked the attack.
“Defensively, he helped as fifth defender (slotting in as a wing-back), and he really did it very well, against a winger who has just had a great season like Pablo Maffeo. So, I appreciate not only Bryan’s performance, but also the generosity with which he played.”
Gil was utilised more often than not on the right-hand side at Spurs; operating as a back-up for the influential Dejan Kulusevski in Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 set-up. His most consistent form, however, came during a loan spell at Eibar in 2020/21, in which Gil thrived on the opposite flank.
With no option-to-buy clause in his Sevilla contract, the hope will be that Gil returns to Tottenham a more complete, confident player. And helping one of La Liga’s biggest clubs dodge the dreaded relegation is nothing if not character building.
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