Manchester United Set To Rival Arsenal For Celta Vigo Star Gabri Veiga Dubbed “Amazing”

Manchester United have reportedly entered the race to sign Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga, with Arsenal also said to be plotting a move for the midfielder.

According to reports, United boss Erik ten Hag is on the hunt for midfield recruits this summer, with the likes of Scott McTominay and Fred rumored to be on their way out.

It remains to be seen whether Marcel Sabitzer will make his stay permanent at Old Trafford, and Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham has been long linked with a move to the Red Devils.

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However, Dortmund’s rumored £100 million asking price for Bellingham has put Liverpool off the trail, and in the event that Sabitzer and others do leave United, Ten Hag has identified Veiga as a cheaper alternative to the English midfielder.

Veiga has enjoyed a breakout season in La Liga, scoring nine goals and providing four assists across all competitions.

According to Spanish publication AS (via Sport Witness), United are keen to sign the Spaniard this summer, with Celta Vigo willing to let him go for £36 million.

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Arsenal, meanwhile, are said to be plotting a move for Veiga, with Mikel Arteta keen to add depth to his midfield ahead of a busy European schedule next season.

Veiga, who has been described as “amazing” by respected football scout Jacek Kulig, is said to be “dreaming” of a move to the Emirates.

It remains to be seen who will win the race for Veiga’s signature, but it’s clear that the midfielder has caught the eye of some of Europe’s top clubs. With United and Arsenal both in the mix, the battle for Veiga’s services is sure to be one of the transfer window’s most closely watched sagas.

Who is Gabri Veiga? The Celta Vigo wonderkid wanted by top clubs in Europe?

Veiga was born in O Porrino, a stone’s throw from Celta’s stadium, Balaidos. He joined Celta’s academy at 11 and worked his way through the ranks as a promising but not exactly heralded talent.

He was a distinctly unremarkable midfield product for most of his youth career, and like many in the Celta system, he idolised Aspas. But there was little suggestion that Veiga could reach the Spain international’s heights.

The midfielder instead took his chances as they came, and began to impress for Celta’s reserve side as a 17-year-old.

In 2020, he was handed his first-team debut, and made a smattering of appearances thereafter, including one start, for a Celta side that finished eighth in La Liga.

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Heads first started to turn in the 2021-22 campaign as Veiga scored nine for a Celta B side that finished sixth in the Spanish third tier, and was entrusted with a further 10 appearances for the first team.

This season, though, things have skyrocketed. Veiga didn’t figure to be a regular, but a series of departures in central midfield saw him forced into the picture.

He settled for a series of appearances off the bench in the opening month, but cracked the starting XI after a star showing against Real Betis last October. Veiga scored the winner, a 30-yard-screamer, to hand his side a 1-0 victory.

Since then, Veiga has only improved. Previously tasked with being a more conservative box-to-box midfielder, the 20-year-old has been asked to get into advanced areas more regularly, playing as an active No.10 for a Celta side that likes to hit on the break.

And he’s produced a handy return of both goals and assists since the positional shift. Veiga scored the equaliser against Sevilla on December 30, bagged a brace in a 4-3 win over Betis in early February, and scored two of Celta’s three in a drubbing of Valladolid at the end of the month.

The midfielder has become a dangerous attacking threat with his pace and ball carrying ability. He has now created at least one chance in 12 of his last 13 appearances, and ranks in the 96th percentile of successful take-ons among midfielders, per fbref.

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Biggest strengths

Despite being quite tall for a playmaker at 5’10 (178cm), Veiga is an excellent dribbler, and uses his power to work his way out of trouble in crowded spots before making driving runs into the final third. That he is able to receive the ball on the half turn and then hit full speed quickly makes him an incredibly difficult player to mark.

And there’s little he can’t do when he gets into the right areas. Veiga has scored some terrific goals from distance this year, and has the rare blend of confidence and technique to shoot from outside the box — especially while on the run.

But the 20-year-old also has a real finesse to his game, too — something he showed with a delightful dink over the keeper in Celta’s recent win against Betis.

Veiga is, then, the perfect attacking midfielder for sides that like to play on the break.

What next?

All of the usual suspects have been linked. Real Madrid and Barcelona have shown some form of interest, with Los Blancos supposedly hoping to add the Spaniard to their impressive midfield ranks.

Manchester City have also been linked, and a deal there might make sense, especially given City could lose both Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva at the end of the year.

Liverpool, in dire need of midfield reinforcement, are also reportedly in the mix, while Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle have all been cited as potential destinations, too.

Celta have reportedly offered the player a contract extension, if only to work a higher release clause into his deal. But Veiga is yet to pen a new deal, and the club’s hand will likely be forced into a sale this summer.

Whoever gets their hands on him, they are getting a top, top talent.