Who is Gabri Veiga? The Bellingham alternative Liverpool could target this summer
Gabri Veiga is one of the breakout stars of the 2022/23 campaign. The 20-year-old has caught the eye for Celta Vigo despite the fact Carlos Carvalhal’s side find themselves in mid-table this term.
Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema and Iago Aspas are just three of the eight players to have scored more goals than the midfielder in La Liga this term.
Veiga added his ninth of the season for Los Celestes in the 3-1 win over Espanyol over the weekend. What makes his return even more impressive is the fact he’s appeared in just a little over 1,500 minutes so far this season. Deployed in a double pivot in a 4-4-2, the in-demand midfielder is making a habit out of getting into goalscoring situations and he’s been involved in a goal every 125 minutes.
It is little surprise to see reports linking some of Europe’s biggest clubs with a move for the youngster. Real Madrid are believed to be interested, though they aren’t exactly short in the midfield department. Premier League leaders Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are all believed to be keen on the 20-year-old, and he may even be viewed as a cheaper alternative to Jude Bellingham this summer.
According to multiple outlets, Veiga has a €40m release clause in his current deal. It expires in 2026, but Celta Vigo are believed to be desperate to offer him a new contract, one that gives him a pay rise while also hiking up his release clause. The latest stories seem to suggest the No. 28 isn’t keen to renew and a move could be on the cards this summer.
The 6ft midfielder has really shot to prominence this season. He made his debut for the first team in the 2020/21 campaign, but this is the first time he’s been a guaranteed starter. Veiga spent the majority of time with the Celta B team, but was given the opportunity in Carvalhal’s starting XI this term and he’s not looked back.
Only two Celta Vigo players can boast a higher WhoScored average rating this season. Veiga has racked up an impressive 6.92 while Javi Galan has a 7.02 and Aspas has a 7.09. The young midfielder ranks second in the team for goals and is joint-second for assists with three.
Despite being a goalscorer, he is a bit of a throwback in the sense he can do it all and he’s being used in a double pivot. He doesn’t shirk his defensive responsibilities and is averaging 4.5 tackles and interceptions per 90. Veiga is press-resistant too, attempting 3.3 dribbles per 90 with the majority of those coming in the middle third. He has the ability to create space for himself and for teammates. He is successful with over half of those attempts, 58% to be precise.
Many had expected him to be named in the Spain squad for this upcoming international break, but Luis de la Fuente opted to overlook the in-form box-to-box midfielder, for now at least. If he continues to perform at this level though, it is only a matter of time before he will be turning out for La Roja.
He is destined for a big move.
It is not often you find a player with his profile. He has the physicality, the robustness and the composure to absorb pressure in dangerous areas, but then he’s also got the vision to be a playmaker and the penalty box nous to be a reliable goal threat.
Veiga is malleable. He can excel in a number of different positions and is probably only one of a handful of players who could perhaps be a viable alternative to Bellingham. He might not be at the BVB midfielder’s level, but he has the traits to play in a double pivot, a midfield three or even as an attacking midfielder. He is three profiles rolled into one and those sorts of players are valuable in the current market.
The sample size isn’t the largest, but for the rumoured fee, Veiga is worth the gamble. It is hard to ignore what he is doing in La Liga right now.
