It’s a story Hans Christian Andersen, or Roald Dahl would be proud of. Two young Mexicans, two best friends, both living their dream of playing professional football, but for two teams who thoroughly hate each other.
Yes I’m talking about Giovanni Dos Santos and Carlos Vela. The pair will link up together in London over the summer, after Vela received the required work permit meaning he could complete his long awaited switch to Arsenal, whilst his close friend Giovanni signed for arch rivals Tottenham yesterday.
Many have hailed both left footed forwards as the brightest prospects of a new wave of Mexican players, and now they will ply their trade in the greatest league in the world. So which starlet is best? Young Guns analyses both players.
Background
Although both players were born in Mexico, they came from very different backgrounds. Vela’s up bringing was not easy, he and his family were very poor and faced the constant threat of storms and floods in the Quintana Roo region of Cancún. When Carlos’s talents came to fruition he included terms that meant his first club Guadalajara would find his family new housing.
Dos Santos had a much easier start to life, as his farther Gerardo dos Santos was already a professional footballer, who founded a soccer school in the wealthy city of Monterrey. His Dad was the driving force behind his career, and pushed hard for him to be given trials at local clubs. Eventually his home town side snapped him up, and he quickly progressed before being granted the chance to move to Spanish giants Barcelona.
Attitude & Footballing Abilities
Carlos has always been a quiet and appreciative young man. After coming from very simple surroundings, to international stardom, he accepts all opportunities with a grateful yet determined mentality. Naturally he fits the Arsenal mould as a chief team player, but can be accused at times of choosing to pass when shooting seems natural, but his decision making will come good in time. His transfer fee was just £2.5 million, however he was only 16 when he joined the Gunners and is yet to prove anything.
Giovanni has been criticised at times of lacking professionalism and possessing a cocky attitude. But his style of saying what he thinks, can be taken as a plus point by coaches who value straight to the point players. His talent is obvious to see, naturally gifted he can play in almost any forward position with class and style, and his fee of just over £4.5 million looks like an absolute bargain. However should he complete certain targets his fee could rise close to £8 million.
And Overall?
Overall both sets of fans will of course choose the player from their club, but i feel that Vela’s attitude will see him succeed over Gio in England. Carlos has already forced his way into the national team ahead of Dos Santos, and when things get tough for both talented players, his mentality and positive attitude will see Carlos handle it much better.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Quality article.
Agree with you, Vela over dos Santos any day. ;)
vela 4 me
No question, Vela, myself and the boys had this discussion a while back. Yeah vela for me!!!
Only time will tell.
Im excited about Vela. I hope he settles in well and has a good injury free season, no doubt he can be a future arsenal great. I wonder what number he will get as soon as i find out im getting his name and number on my shirt.
Should have got both!
Ive heard about Dos Pantos attitude problems, but haven’t really seen enough of him to judge. However the fact that Barca were happy to get rid of him, would indicate there is something not quite right with him, or he just aint that good!
Either way, seems we got the better Mexicano!
These articles are like a fresh breath of wind among all the crap which is out there..
Keep up the good work!
I think Vela’s attitude makes him a better player, he seems smarter.. and thinks about what he says before just shouting anything.
Nice guys and superb talents are a welcome combo :D
Its tougher then yous are making out I think both are superb talents but I think Vela got more of a threat when it comes to scoring goals but its tight but its good to see both in the best league in world.
I was in Mexico few months ago and I wanted a Mexican jersey. I wanted Vela on the back of course but they didn’t have him but had Dos Santos. So now I have a jersey with a Spuds player on the back. I don’t know if I want to wear it anymore
Vela has moore experience because he has been regular footy for nearly 2 years now, and he is use to being the only 1 on the pitch that is quality, he is not used to getting oppertunetys given on a silver plate for him from players like Iniesta and Xavi. His goal scoring record is better despite playing for a defensive B club. Gio has scored 3 league goals all in 1 game were Barca won with 5 goals or something. Even though Gio gets many good passes and oppertunetys he still only plays 1 good game out of 5. He is very predictable, and on top of it all he is ajust a spoiled brat. He cant be very clevear either because he went to 1 of the worst footbal academy’s in the world. I think he is a bit li L Diarra, as soon as Spuds realise that he is not starting material yet he will bitch and mone untill they let him go. To sum it all up, Vela WILL be world class Gio might be with a little bit of luck…… BTW, there is alot of Enlish people that dont know mutch about Gio because they dont watch laliga mutch that is why he is a little bit overrated.
Gio is only good on youtube videos
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“two teams who thoroughly hate each other”
I think “hate” is too soft a word, but I’ll let you off this time.
Com’ on guys. Osasuna aren’t filled with World player of the year winnders, african player of the year winners or young player of they years winners to give you world class passes. Gio is good but he always relied of through passes as he could never beat a opposing player with strength. If you don’t have the stones for La Liga what makes you think you can in the EPL. Don’t even dare say he’ll get the same type of passes with Tottenham.
Com’ on guys. Osasuna aren’t filled with World player of the year winnders, african player of the year winners or young player of they years winners to give you world class passes. Gio is good but he always relied of through passes as he could never beat a opposing player with strength. If you don’t have the stones for La Liga what makes you think you can in the EPL. Don’t even dare say he’ll get the same type of passes with Tottenham…
Sorry, Submitted it twice.
Hope Carlos gets a new haircut before the start of the season!
I’ve seen very little of either but seeing as i’m an Arsenal supporter i’ll say Vela is the better player :D.
Vela’s also certainly had a tougher time since the start of his career.
Looking forward to seeing him in the red and white (well, not as much white as in past seasons) of Arsenal!
Excellent points Seedorf, the quality of service at Barcelona means players will find it easy to score goals.
Vela had to work really hard and at times make his own changes by racing from the half way line.
Jim i wanted to put something different.. but i could not fit that many swear words in one article ;)
lol @ Stone.
i have a barca jersey with giovani on the back….now what do i do? LOL. i say by jan nex season we can say who is better. both will need to find their feet in epl.
sad to see this thing to happen
so vela n gio are frends
n walcott n bale r frends
dis is a gr8 website by da way
lol @ vince
i bought flamini 2 months before the rumours started, i sold it to a guy who thought flamini was staying. It’s a shame he got his money back… Damn pitbull of his. Don’t ask.
We share the pain Vince
The Euro is about to start in 25 minutes. I am a Spain supporter and also like the Netherlands. My main hope though is that none of the Arsenal players pick up injuries.
Btw. Who do you think will be missed the most of the 3 injured Arsenal players: Sagna, Rosicky or Dudu? I think that Dudu will be most missed but the Czechs will not be the same without Rosicky either. Sagna is replaceable because they have Sagnol but still a blow for Le Bleus.
Stone, i can’t decide between the two. They both play beatiful Football !
I personally do not know who is better football player out Carlos Vela or Giovani Dos Santos and it is all pure speculation at this present moment in time because neather of them have played in the English Premier League before so reality the could both suck IMO
I think Vela will adapt and star faster to the premier league, as he is stronger physically than Dos Santos and worked harder for two whole seasons.
But maybe the main reason is because Wenger was clever and send a private English tutor to teach Vela how to speak English, in this way he wont have any difficulty to communicate with his teammates which is a bonus as we doesn’t have any Mexican speaking player.
Dos Santos is far the better player.Pains me to say but the scum have bought the better player. Vela looks over rated and from his last match couldn’t hit a cows arse with an old banjo.
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Reyes
Fabregas is Spanish and Philip Senderos speaks it as well i think so Carlos Vela will have somebody to talk to if his English is not so good yet
Vela is in a better academy than Gio…
er “mexican speaking?” according to sky Dos Santos is only the 3rd mexican to grace the EPL.
Guys, mexico speaks spanish…
Oh yeah, and without meaning to be pedantic – JS, there’s no ” ‘s” in Mexicans – apostrophe denotes ownership in most cases, whereas s is simply plural… Great Blog though
GIO AND CARLOS VELA ARE BOTH GREAT MEXICAN SOCCER PLAYERS THEY ARE CONSIDERED “THE MEXICAN PEARLS OF SOCCER” THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT FAME DOESN’T GET TO VELA’S HEAD AND ON THE OTHER SIDE WELL LETS JUST SAY GIO IS A BIT CONSIDED AND LAZY!! BUT I AS A MEXICAN LOVE THEM BOTH!!
Carlos has already forced his way into the national team ahead of Dos Santos,
Hasnt Dos Santos made MORE appearances than Vela?!!
Barca dont get rid of their top talent who have played in the first team… so he cant be that great. Vela looks quality but so did Reyes until one day in Mankchester…
I still wearing my Arsenal jersey with Bergkamp. U know why? Because there are differences between a player and a legend.Haha even if he is not in the club anymore.But he is still in our heart…
Vela is more of a humble, he let what he did do the talking. Gio is the Anderson-type (ManU player) of attitude player.I dont see Anderson will last any longer with that attitude of his… Good luck to Vela… And welcome to Arsenal. We support u…
I’m a mexican Arsenal fan and to be honest with you most journalists in here always tend to praise Gio over Vela, perhaps it was because he was playing in a stars loaded Barca side and that helps.
But as many of you has pointed out Vela has something special about him. He has great attitude, he’s not cocky, he’s always improving his game, has great technique and speed and of course he even make look Sergio Ramos like any other defender. Even his coach in Osasuna said that he didn’t use Vela for the whole game because his team would have to learn how to live without him after he was gone.
By the way all that stuff you´re reading about his family it’s true. I’ve been able to watch a few clips about his past history and the terms he asked his former club to help his family and you get touched by it.
Just let me point out something else about Gio. His agent is Pini Zahavi, you know the guy that made Rio Ferdinand the most expensive defender in the world, maybe Gio is up for the money too. And he also embarrassed himself by taking out the dirty laundry on national TV about his parents divorce, not a very loyal move to his dad that has always stood right beside him.
I must say i’m looking forward to seeing Vela next season and i’m delighted Wenger is going to use him as a second striker which is where he’s most dangerous. I saw him quite a bit last season playing on the left wing and he reminded me of a Reyes who can take challenges, he has the same directness and speed and I don’t think he’ll get homesick like Reyes did cause he’s been away from his home since he was 16 and he’s got cojones/balls. Also I think Dos Santos won’t even displace Malbranque he’s a showpony. Great article.
Modric and Eduardo.
Walcott and Bale.
Dos Santos and Vela.
What is this youth alliance shit?
I hate how most Arsenal fans say that Vela is better because of the service he received at Osasuna being worse. Firstly, Giovani isn’t a striker, secondly he scored 4 goals, not 3 – which still isn’t great but can be improved. Also being in such an illustrious team has its downsides; Giovani made 38 appearances for Barcelona last season but a majority were late substitute appearances so he never really got the chance to score many goals.
Moreover, unless you are an avid La Liga fan, it is highly unlikely that you can compare Giovani, who plays very little in terms of minutes, and when he does play it is only for 5 or so minutes with Vela who is a regular for Osasuna. That is similar to comparing the sporadic appearances of Walcott to the regular outings of Nani, Nani favours a different position and plays more, therefore it is nearly impossible to compare him and Walcott. Same problem here.
Finally for all those Arsenal fans who ask why Barca would let such a prodigy go for under £5m, firstly, they have better prodigies in similar positions (ie Bojan and Messi), secondly they are rebuilding their team and are cutting out anyone who wants a place in the first team but is not going to get it (Giovani Dos Santos included), also the price can go up to £8.6m, more than Eduardo cost (why would Zagreb let him go!?!?!?) also with a sell-on clause 20% in the first two years of his contract and 10% thereafter there is plenty of money to be made on Giovani.
I think Giovani Dos Santos is better than Carlos Vela but to be honest that could be complete wrong as the Premiership is like no other league, although I am sure both have the mental strength to cope with its rigours after the pressure of playing for Barca/ being the source of goals for a struggling team.
Also:
*Rio Ferdinand has stayed at Man Utd. ever since that record fee – so if he’s in it for the money he might have gone to Real or somewhere.
*Anderson mixed into the title winning Man Utd. side exceptionally last season and lasted as a great bullish holding midfielder.
*If fame was getting to Gio’s head he would have opted for Chelsea rather than UEFA-Cup-Spurs.
*Where is the evidence that Giovani Dos Santos is arrogant? I am not an expert at Spanish football but I have no bad impressions from him.
Most importantly, they are both beasts on FM which tells us the true story – they will both be excellent players in real life :D