Erik Lamela has told Marca he jumped at the chance to leave Tottenham Hotspur after La Liga challengers Sevilla expressed an interest.
At the time, few would have dared to suggest Sevilla were getting the better of a deal that saw Lamela and Bryan Gil swap places, one heading to Andalusia as the other left for north London.
Spain international Gil, after all, had established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in European football after a superb loan spell at Eibar.
The £30 million Lamela, in contrast, was viewed as one of many ill-deserving high-earners in a Spurs squad starting to resemble a galaxy full of fading stars.
Four months on, however, and £21 million Gil has played just 57 minutes of Premier League football, failing to score or create a goal.
Lamela, meanwhile, has found the net four times already for a Sevilla side sitting just one point off Real Sociedad at the top of an unfamiliar-looking La Liga table.
Did Tottenham make a mistake letting Erik Lamela sign for Sevilla?
“I did not hesitate,” says Lamela, who has no regrets about bidding farewell to life in London.
“From the beginning I was very excited. I felt I wanted a change of scene, to leave England. And I did not hesitate because I always liked Sevilla. They have had Argentine players and my teammates spoke well of the club.
“They have fought for important (trophies) in recent years and that encouraged me to come.
“Hopefully (we can win La Liga). We have played a third of the tournament. There’s a long way to go but the important thing is we are up there and, personally, I feel we can improve even more.”
Sevilla beat Hector Bellerin’s Real Betis in the Andalusian derby at the weekend while Tottenham were drawing 0-0 with Everton during Antonio Conte’s first Premier League game in charge.
Conte’s Spurs appear to have big recruitment plans heading into 2022, with a rampaging right wing-back, a £77 million striker and a midfielder who has been compared to Paul Scholes, N’Golo Kante and Jorginho all on the radar.
If Lamela had stayed he would be playing alongside fellow Argentine Cristian Romero at Tottenham this season.
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