Tottenham have refuted a claim from club legend Ricky Villa that his fellow Argentine Erik Lamela might never play again, according to a reliable journalist.
Ex-Spurs ace Villa, now 65, made the astonishing revelation about the injury-ravaged Lamela in an interview with Argentine radio as the player battles back from a hip injury that has sidelined him for 11 months.
But Tottenham insisted that Villa’s version of events is some way from the truth.
The club briefed Press Association correspondent Tom Allnutt, who cited them as saying that the “quote coming from Argentina re Lamela are incorrect” and that he is in fact in the latter stages of rehabilitation.
#thfc say quotes coming from Argentina re Lamela are incorrect, that player is in latter stages of rehab.
— Tom Allnutt (@tomallnuttPA) September 6, 2017
Lamela has not played since last October and underwent hip surgery at the end of last season in a bid to cure him of the problem that has baffled doctors.
Tottenham gave a clear indication that the 25-year-old is still some way off fitness by omitting him from their Champions League squad on Monday,
In an interview with AM950 radio, via Bola VIP, Villa said: “Unfortunately, Erik Lamela was operated on the hip. There is concern to know if he will play again.
“In England they are worried about him, but, because of how the medicine is today, hopefully he can return.”
The 23-times Argentina international joined Spurs from Roma in the summer of 2013 for a then club-record £30million.
He has made 121 appearances for the Londoners, scoring 19 goals and supplying 31 assists from all competitions.
OPINION
Villa’s claims will be dismissed as scare-mongering in some parts and there may indeed be little to substantiate them. But alarm bells are ringing over the fitness of Lamela, whose recovery from a seemingly innocuous injury has taken nearly a year and there is no suggestion he is close to challenging for a first-team return. Spurs’ decision to omit him from their squad for the pre-Christmas stage of the Champions League was telling. Had he been on the verge of a comeback, that decision is unlikely to have been taken. Spurs fans might not put too much credence in Villa’s contentious suggestion – despite his status and Argentine nationality – but until they see Lamela in a white shirt again, they will not rest easy.