Come up through the ranks of a smaller club, and the temptation for most good players is to move on, bigger and higher. The instinct of the club is to profit from their nursery, too. So when Celta Vigo sold Aspas, then 25, to Liverpool in 2013 for €10 million (Dh41.7m), there was gratitude for the income he had brought in, as well as sadness at his departure.
Happy returns
Aspas rejoined Celta last summer after a frustrating time in England, and again during a spell at Sevilla. Happy to be at the club he had first represented at age nine, the native Galician felt immediately at home. Seven Primera Liga matches into his second spell, he has four goals – including a double in the win over champions Barcelona last month – as well as two assists. And Celta, who meet league-leaders Villarreal tomorrow, are third in the table.
Celta at heart
After two years struggling for first-team action, he feels he belongs. Aspas was a Celta fan growing up, and if those who applaud him now appreciate that, they have also forgiven the odd act of impulsive behaviour when he played for them from 2007-2013. He was embraced by most supporters by the time his goals had driven Celta to promotion from Spain’s second tier three years ago. He once said he would not even consider dating anybody from La Coruna, city of local rivals Deportivo, let alone playing for Depor.
Front of the queue
Having the trust of coach Eduardo Berizzo helps, too. His partnership with Nolito up front for Celta is blossoming. At Liverpool, the impish and diminutive striker had to understudy Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez. He was behind Carlos Bacca and France international Kevin Gameiro in the hierarchy at Sevilla, who he joined on loan last January. He did win a silver medal in the Premier League, and a Europa League with Sevilla, but felt marginal to those campaigns.
Spain beckoning
Nolito has stepped up to honours with Spain. “That’s still a long way off for me,” Aspas said this week. But the idea of a place at Euro 2016 is far closer than it was six months ago.
