Tello Set to Join LAFC

Cristian Tello prepares to join LAFC

   Following Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini, Los Angeles Football Club are ready to add another European star to their squad. 

   As reported by the Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Cristian Tello has reached an agreement with the Californian club and is likely to arrive in the U.S. this week to sign his three-year contract. 

   “According to MD, the player’s agent, Josep Maria Orobitg, is already preparing the landing of the Catalan player, which could take place this week,” wrote Felip Muñoz, Mundo Deportivo’s reporter. 

   Just like Bale and Chiellini, the Spanish winger arrives in Los Angeles on a free transfer, as his contract with Real Betis expired last June 30th.

   It was also reported by Mundo Deportivo that the Greek side Olympiacos were interested in having Tello as their striker for the 2022/2023 season. However, the former Barcelona player decided to make his move to the MLS.

   The 31-year-old is another product from La Masia, Barcelona’s youth academy, and made history by being part of Barcelona’s victorious era between 2011 and 2014, when the Spanish club won all the trophies they played during this period. 

   Representing the Catalonian club, Tello played 86 matches, scored 20 goals and provided 14 assists to his teammates. In addition to his individual statistics, Tello also won two Spanish Super Cups, one Copa del Rey and one La Liga.

   After three seasons as a part of Barcelona’s squad, the player joined FC Porto on loan in the summer of 2014, where he stayed until Jan. 2016. Following his spell with the Portuguese club, Tello became part of the Italian side Fiorentina for one-and-a-half seasons and was sold to Real Betis in July 2017 on a €4 million transfer. 

   At the Andalusian club where Tello spent his last five seasons, he was part of the team that won the Copa del Rey last year. In 172 matches for Betis, the winger scored 24 goals and gave 20 assists. 

-Matheus Teles

Photo: Ignacio Palomo Duarte. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.