Outrage as Tottenham striker spotted at old club’s ground amid transfer return talk

Tottenham Hotspur forward Alejo Véliz has been back in his native Argentina during the offseason, spending time at Rosario Central—the club where he began his professional career—as rumors swirl about a potential return. The sight of Véliz at Rosario’s training base in Arroyo Seco has only fueled speculation that the Argentine side is hoping to re-sign the young striker, either on loan or in a more permanent deal.

Véliz, now 21, was once considered one of the brightest young talents in Argentine football. After impressing at Rosario Central with his strength, aerial ability, and knack for goals, he earned a high-profile move to the Premier League in the summer of 2023, joining Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth around £12 million. It was a significant investment for a player with relatively little top-level experience, but Spurs were hopeful they could develop him into a long-term asset.

However, his time in North London has been far from smooth. Since arriving at Tottenham, Véliz has found first-team opportunities extremely limited. He has made just eight senior appearances in all competitions, scoring only once. With fierce competition for attacking places at Spurs and a lack of consistent game time, the club opted to loan him out in order to give him the opportunity to continue his development.

Unfortunately, his loan spells in Spain failed to deliver the intended results. At Sevilla, he played just six times and struggled to make an impression amid a turbulent season for the club. He was then loaned to Espanyol, where he featured more regularly—making 29 appearances—but most of those came as a late substitute. He rarely played significant minutes, and his overall impact was modest at best. The lack of game time and goals has led to concerns about whether Véliz is progressing as hoped.

Despite these struggles, the young striker has maintained a close connection to Rosario Central. He frequently visits the club during holidays or international breaks, maintaining strong ties with the coaching staff and former teammates. Most recently, he was seen at Arroyo Seco, Rosario’s training complex, wearing the club’s jacket and watching the team’s friendly matches against Central Córdoba. Rosario Central’s official social media account shared photos of the visit and posted the caption: “Like every time he is on vacation, Alejo Véliz visited Arroyo Seco to watch this morning’s friendlies against Central Córdoba.”

This public appearance has sparked further talk that Rosario Central would welcome his return, especially on loan. Argentine media have reported that the club is eager to bring Véliz back, believing that a familiar environment could help him rediscover the form that earned him the move to Europe in the first place.

However, the situation is far from straightforward. Reports from Argentina suggest that Tottenham may not be interested in another loan spell, instead preferring to sell the player outright. The North London club is believed to be weighing up whether Véliz can realistically challenge for a spot in the squad under new head coach Thomas Frank. With the Dane looking to reshape the team for the upcoming season, Véliz may struggle to convince the manager that he is ready to play a meaningful role.

Tottenham’s concerns are not only about form and development but also about squad logistics. Véliz no longer qualifies for the Premier League’s U21 exemption list, as he was born before January 1, 2004. This means that if Spurs want to include him in their senior squad for the league campaign, they would need to allocate one of the limited first-team slots to a player who has yet to prove himself in English football. The issue is even more complicated when it comes to European competitions: Véliz is not considered a locally trained player, which restricts his eligibility and could force the club to leave out another foreign player if they wanted to register him.

With these complications in mind, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see a clear path for Véliz at Tottenham. While he still has four years remaining on his contract—set to run until the summer of 2029—the club is faced with a difficult decision. Another loan could be on the table, but ideally one to a European club that could give him regular minutes and help raise his profile and market value. That way, Spurs might be in a better position to either integrate him in the future or sell him for a reasonable fee.

As it stands, a permanent departure this summer seems unlikely unless a club is willing to meet Tottenham’s valuation and help them recoup a significant portion of the £12 million they invested. Rosario Central, despite their interest, are unlikely to have the financial muscle to buy him outright. A loan move, though not ideal for Spurs, might be the most realistic solution if no serious offers materialize in Europe.

For Alejo Véliz, this summer could prove crucial. Still only 21, he has time to get his career back on track, but he needs regular minutes and a team that believes in him. Whether that comes in the form of a return to Argentina or another chance in Europe remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Tottenham are at a crossroads with the striker, and whatever decision they make could define the trajectory of his career in the years to come.