How special is Gabriel Veiga? Just ask anyone who’s spent any time watching LaLiga this season. The Celta Vigo midfielder, 20, has been Spanish football’s breakout young star, his performances leading to the avalanche of hype and headlines that only the emergence of a top new talent can trigger.
From his first goal against Atletico Madrid in September, to his first brace against Real Betis in February, the milestones have kept coming. It’s now nine goals and four assists in 29 LaLiga games. Not bad for a central midfielder.
Word soon spread, with Celta president Carlos Mourino saying in March that “four of the Premier League‘s top 10″ had called to ask about Veiga’s release clause. ESPN reported that Manchester United, Liverpool and more recently Manchester City were all keen, with Real Madrid paying close attention.
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Celta’s youth academy, A Madroa, is just outside Vigo — a port city in Galicia, Spain’s wild northwest — and people have been excited about “Gabri” for a little longer. But the speed and extent of his breakthrough has caught everyone by surprise.
Ahead of Celta’s trip to Real Madrid on Saturday (stream on ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET, US only), ESPN takes a look at the story of LaLiga’s most in-demand young player, and what his future might hold.
His goal against Almeria on Oct. 29 was even better, a first-time finish that caressed the crossbar on the way in — only belatedly spoiled by his sending off seven minutes later.
There was the goal against Sevilla on Dec. 30, keeping a cool head, one-on-one, to scoop the ball over the keeper. There was the brace against Betis in one of the games of the season, a 4-3 away win. There was the man-of-the-match display against Real Valladolid, scoring twice and assisting another.
Asked to identify Veiga’s one outstanding quality, Bayon doesn’t hesitate. “It’s his llegada, his runs into the box,” he tells ESPN. “Arriving at the right time. It looks easy, but it isn’t — if it was, everyone would do it. The kind of player who’s able to get to where they need to be at just the right moment, to finish the move off.”
Like Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard? “Those are just the examples I was about to give! He’s physically very strong, too. For any style of football, he has it all.”
On to Europe’s elite teams?
A record of nine goals and four assists compares with Europe’s best attacking midfielders. Arsenal‘s Martin Odegaard, at 24, has 11 goals and seven assists this season. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, 28, has five goals and six assists. Bayern Munich‘s Jamal Musiala — 20, like Veiga — has 11 goals and nine assists.
“He’s a surprise,” Carvalhal said in February. “I haven’t seen many players like him in my career. He isn’t the kind of player who’s all about touch or precision, but he knows how to play. He’s smart, he’s very strong, and he knows how to get into the box.”
Success hasn’t changed him, teammates say. Veiga has continued his studies while playing, taking a journalism degree.
“He still goes to watch Celta B games,” one source told ESPN. “He goes into their dressing room when the games are over, because he still thinks he’s a reserve team player.”
“He still has the same friends as always. His family is really normal, like he is,” a source said. “He doesn’t go to the typical places in summer like Ibiza or anywhere like that. He prefers other, more normal places.”
A teammate laughs: “One day he didn’t stop to sign autographs because he didn’t think the fans were asking for him.”
