Tottenham Hotspur’s plans to move Alejo Véliz to the City Football Group may not be as straightforward as first thought, despite an £8.5m (€10m) agreement already being in place with Bahia.
Fresh reporting from Argentina now suggests Spurs no longer have the contractual leverage to act quickly.
According to Argentine journalist Enrique Genovar, the recall clause included in Véliz’s loan only applied under specific conditions. Tottenham could bring him back early only if the striker played fewer than 50% of Rosario Central’s matches in the previous semester. That wasn’t the case. As a result, the clause has expired.
Guillermo Ferretti, another local journalist, backs up the same reading of the contract and makes the situation even clearer. Even with Bahia’s offer agreed, Tottenham cannot simply cut the loan short. Under the current terms, Véliz would remain at Rosario Central until June 30th.
A more detailed breakdown from Enrique Genovar in newspaper El Ciudadano reinforces that position. The story explains that Véliz can only leave during this window if Rosario Central give their approval. Without that green light, the deal stalls, regardless of the agreement reached by Tottenham elsewhere.
There is, however, one possible twist.
Tottenham deal rests on Véliz’s intentions
If Véliz personally decides he wants to leave now, Rosario Central would then need to negotiate compensation with Tottenham. That would open a new round of talks, rather than a clean loan termination.
In short, Tottenham may have a deal lined up inside the City Football Group, but they may not control the timing. Rosario Central now sit firmly in the middle, and the player’s own stance could yet shape what happens next.
Given the potential transfer fee would send around £8.5m to Spurs, there’s not a great deal to play with should Rosario Central want meaty compensation.
The power now rests with the player, because if he doesn’t fancy the move then it’s going to be impossible to get it off the ground.