Giovani dos Santos, the talented Mexican winger, has joined Racing Santander on loan from Spurs for the rest of the 2010/11 season. Giovani came up through Barcelona’s youth system, where he joined as a thirteen year old. He was included in the first team squad from age 18 and played both in La Liga and the Champions League. In his last match for Barcelona, in May 2008, he scored a hat-trick in a 5-3 win against Real Murcia. When the season concluded he was signed by Tottenham Hotspur and then manager Juande Ramos. Ramos was sacked two months into the 2008/09 season and Giovani never seemed to fit into new manager Harry Redknapp’s plans. He was sent out on loan to Championship side Ipswich and the following season on loan to Turkish side Galatasary.
Giovani came back to Tottenham again ahead of the 2010/11 season, after playing some brilliant football for his national team, Mexico. Giovani also had a very good World Cup in South Africa where he was voted runner-up for the FIFA young player of the tournament award. Still back at Tottenham he has barely had any play-time in the first half of the season. Football fans the world over have hoped he would leave Spurs to get regular play-time. In past criticism Redknapp has stated “he would be good if he could pass a night-club as well as he can pass a ball”. His talent however has been documented and now he will be given the chance to shine again in the Spanish La Liga. At the time of Giovani’s arrival Racing Santander are one place above the relegation zone. The club was bought by Indian businessman Ahsan Ali Syed on Friday. Giovani dos Santos was his first signing on Monday, with an option to buy him at the end of the loan deal. Giovani will turn 22 years old in May this year.