sport news Tottenham: The good, bad and the ugly of Erik Lamela's eight-year stint after ...

sport news Tottenham: The good, bad and the ugly of Erik Lamela's eight-year stint after ...
sport news Tottenham: The good, bad and the ugly of Erik Lamela's eight-year stint after ...

Erik Lamela's career at Tottenham was like a expensive box of chocolates. Some of it left a bitter taste in the mouth and other parts weren't to everyone's fancy - but there were always a handful of moments that went down a treat.

The Argentine midfielder joined Spurs for £30million from Roma in 2013 as part of the 'Magnificent Seven' that were recruited using Gareth Bale's £85m sale to Real Madrid - but eight years later he has still not managed to come through on his massive potential. 

Lamela has joined Sevilla in a swap deal with young winger Bryan Gil this week, but the fact he was thrown in alongside a £21m transfer fee shows he was no longer held in the highest esteem by the north London outfit.

Erik Lamela's eight-year spell at Spurs has been a rollercoaster after sealing a move to Sevilla

Erik Lamela's eight-year spell at Spurs has been a rollercoaster after sealing a move to Sevilla

Lamela has left Spurs after eight years for Sevilla in a swap deal

Talented youngster Bryan Gil has moved to Spurs in the opposite direction

The Argentine has left in a swap deal, with Spaniard Bryan Gil (right) heading the other way

No player stays at one club for nearly a decade without being valuable - and Lamela has made his fair share of contributions to the club with 37 goals in more than 250 appearances, but there have been some unsavoury incidents that have weighed down on his time at Spurs.

Tottenham fans have vented their frustration at Lamela's failure to knuckle down a regular spot and hit the mark more often, but they won't deny he captured what it means to be a Spurs player - attacking with flair, wowing the crowd with his skills and having a tenacious edge.

Sportsmail takes a look through the good, the bad and the ugly of Erik Lamela's rollercoaster ride at Tottenham. 

THE GOOD

Rabonas, sumptuous strikes and silky skills

It perhaps sums up Lamela's time at Spurs that his two biggest highlights are rabona goals, but there isn't really anywhere else to start is there?

We've seen players try to pull off this audacious piece of skill numerous times with mixed results, but actually score one? It's almost unheard of. 

Enter Erik Lamela, who grabbed two during his time in London.

His first was arguably the most spectacular but came against minnows Asteras in the Europa League. At a rocking White Hart Lane back in 2015, the away side had failed to clear their lines following a Spurs attack and a loose ball fell to Lamela just outside in the box in the centre of the D.

He always opted for the spectacular and netted two rabona goals during his time with Spurs

He always opted for the spectacular and netted two rabona goals during his time with Spurs

Instead of taking a first time shot with his right foot, as any normal player would do from that angle, he opted to wrap his stronger left foot around the back of his right, with his shot curling into the top right hand corner and sending the stadium into delirium. 

It was such a ridiculous goal that left-back Ben Davies was left stunned with his hands on his head after watching the effort go in.

His second rabona didn't look as special as the first, but it came on a big occasion against Arsenal and still required a lot of invention and skill to pull it off in a north London derby. Sergio Reguilon had hit a first time cross to the feet of Lucas Moura, who flicked it back for Lamela. 

His second came against Arsenal which saw him nutmeg Thomas Partey as he struck home

His second came against Arsenal which saw him nutmeg Thomas Partey as he struck home

Lamela was capable of great skill but they covered over the cracks of an inconsistent spell

Lamela was capable of great skill but they covered over the cracks of an inconsistent spell 

He also netted a famous goal in a 3-0 thrashing over Manchester United in 2015

He also netted a famous goal in a 3-0 thrashing over Manchester United in 2015 

Just like against Asteras, the angle was wrong - but it didn't matter as he brought his left foot over once again and hit a low drive into the corner that ended up nutmegging through the legs of Thomas Partey. Some might say it was the better of the two just for that alone. 

Lamela enjoyed his first senior hat-trick against Monaco in December 2015, and in the same season he clinched a famous win over Manchester United - who can forget Martin Tyler's iconic commentary when he screamed his name.

He always kept fans on the edge of their seats with his energetic dribbling style - and became known for his chipped finishes, as well as a couple of beautiful curlers - the best of the bunch coming against Burnley in 2014. 

THE BAD

Fitness issues and frustrating form 

Lamela will argue that he will have turned out as a success at Tottenham were it not for a series of niggling injuries that kept him out for long spells and disrupted his progress in north London. 

According to Transfermarkt, the Argentine missed out on a

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