Playmaker's Hawk-Eye | #1 Gabri Veiga

From the upper echelons of the European game down to non-league domestic football, Playmaker's 'Hawk-Eye' feature aims to highlight players most fans haven't heard of yet...but who will soon be household names. 

Our first destination is Vigo, Spain, where a talented academy graduate is running the show and attracting interest from almost every top club in Europe.

Gabri Veiga is his name and with the midfielder's meteoric rise to prominence showing no signs of abating, this article take an in-depth look at what makes the 20-year-old such a special talent.  

From the Cantera of Celta de Vigo...to beyond?

Veiga joined Celta’s academy at the age of 11 and progressed through the youth ranks before making his first team debut as a late sub in a 2-1 win over Valencia under former Brighton and Watford manager Óscar García in September 2020.

However, the youngster's opportunities were limited under Garcia's successor Eduardo Coudet the following season and it was only when former Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea manager Carlos Carvalhal was appointed midway through the current campaign that Veiga truly found his feet.

Under Carvalhal's watchful eye, the 20-year-old has become a key player in a team who have shrugged off a slow start to move within two points of a European spot in La Liga.

One key tactical switch from Carvalhal was crucial to Veiga's development, the Portuguese manager opting to drop Renato Tapia and trust the Spain Under-21 international alongside Fran Beltran in central midfield in a 4-4-2 formation. This tactical set-up suits Veiga's playing style as he is given license to roam forward while Beltran sweeps up behind him.

At the hub of Celta's midfield, the talented midfielder can effectively utilise his pace and stamina to support his team's attacks and then quickly track back to do his fair share of defensive duties. His performances bear the hallmark of a true midfield dynamo and he has undoubtedly been one of Celta's star performers this season.  

After a spell to'ing and fro'ing between Celta's first team and 'B' team, Veiga established himself in the senior fray from January and his form has notably clicked up a gear. In February, he scored two goals in a 4-3 win against Real Betis and that double was followed by a further brace, and an assist, in a 3-0 win against Real Valladolid. 

On the back of such performances, Veiga won La Liga's Player of the Month award for February, beating off stiff competition from Frenkie de Jong, Eduardo Camavinga, Sergio Canales, Oihan Sancet, Reinildo Mandava, and Fran Garcia.

💎✨ 𝙂𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙞 𝙑𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙖 ✨💎

🏆 Celta's Gabri Veiga has been named LaLiga’s ‘Player of the Month’ for February with four goals and an assist in four games

🔝 At just 20 years of age, he receives this trophy for the first time. Do you think there will be more?#LLL
🧡🇪🇸⚽️ pic.twitter.com/7RfwgbgOxU

— La Liga Lowdown 🧡🇪🇸⚽️ (@LaLigaLowdown) March 3, 2023

Speaking about his young charge in February, Carvalhal said: "He is a top level player. He's not a common player, not only in Spain, because we play with two midfielders and he appears very well in finishing zones. He knows how to play, he is intelligent and very strong. He is a surprise to me. When I arrived I loved it and so far it has not disappointed me."

Attributes

A remarkable aspect of Veiga's game is his tendency to always look forward on and off the ball. He favours vertical passes whenever he receives the ball, and is quick to identify progressive passing lanes to exploit. He is also able to carry the ball further up the pitch using his impressive dribbling ability.

Off the ball, his astute positioning allows him to outfox opponents, the midfielder constantly scanning his surroundings to find space and offer dangerous passing lines

Another string to Veiga's bow is his versatility - his aforementioned skillset allowing him to play in any position across midfield. If we were to embark on an Alan Hansen-esque list (sorry for those of you too young to remember him on Match of the Day!) of the young Spaniard's qualities, we could be here a while. To save time, we'll name four that help him make a real difference in the final third: technique, vision, personality, and work rate.

One of the most impressive aspects of his breakthrough season to date has been Veiga's remarkable goal-scoring ability, despite his tender years and inexperience in the professional ranks. He's not afraid to have a go from distance as three of his La Liga goals clearly indicate and, in fact, only Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann and Real Madrid's Federico Valverde (4 strikes apiece) have been more lethal from outside the 18-yard box in the Spanish top flight in 2022/23.

With 12 goal involvements (9G, 3A) in 25 La Liga games, Veiga is the most productive Under-21 in La Liga so far this season, and he ranks seventh on the list when you factor in other youngsters across UEFA's 'Top 5' leagues.

Veiga's game is characterised by his forward-thinking, on and off the ball. The Spanish wonderkid has excellent vision and the quality to create potential one-on-one situations or find forwards between the lines. 

His ability to take on opponents and attack the penalty area is another fearsome weapon in Veiga's armoury and it is this breadth of ability with the ball that makes him such a hard player to nullify.  

Off the ball, the 20-year-old is intelligent and adept at finding pockets of space to pick his passes. One particularly effective trait of Veiga's is his knack for attacking space in behind opposing full-backs. 

Defensively, he is active and aggressive in pressing the opposition when his team loses the ball. He is strong in one-on-one defensive situations, and times his tackles well. One potential area for improvement is his ability to intercept passes; were he to up his output in this regard, his natural tendency to play forward would open up an array of counter-attacking opportunities. 

It is certainly early days, but Veiga appears to have many of the attributes you would look for in a world class central midfielder. 

Linked with: According to numerous reports, Veiga will complete a move away from Celta at the end of this season and the Premier League appears to be his most likely port of call. 

Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle are all in the race to sign the talented midfielder, with any of the aforementioned clubs willing to match his €40m (£35.2m) release clause.

Playmaker verdict: Veiga has an impressive range of skills and the potential to become a top player. Given his age and experience, there is plenty of room for him to further develop his game: his decision making, acceleration of play and energy management among them. However, he has already established himself as a potential rising star in international football.

Next season, Premier League fans may see up close what the fuss is all about!

Profile

Name: Gabriel Veiga Novas
Position: Attacking/Central midfielder
Date of Birth: 27 May 2002
Team and Number: Celta de Vigo, #24
Nationality/Eligibility: Spanish/Spain