Gabri Veiga’s Cinderella story: from a pumpkin patch to Celta Vigo colossus

I n the land of Iago Aspas, maybe one day Gabri Veiga will write his own story. Still only 20 and a journalism student, it started with him kicking a pumpkin around his uncle’s place in the Galician countryside. Where it goes, who knows yet, but it’s going to be somewhere good: named the best player in La Liga for February, a likely call-up for Spain this Friday, and scorer of eight (mostly absurd) goals so far this season. The one against Betis was bloody ridiculous, and some even have dared claim the Celta de Vigo midfielder will end up like Aspas, his captain. Only, Veiga insists, there’s no one like him - and he knows, he’s seen it.

Born in the town O Porriño, Pontevedra province, Veiga was six on the day Aspas made his debut for Celta, the team they both supported a generation apart. He watched him rescue them from sliding into the third tier. Aspas left the same year Veiga arrived, aged 11, and saw the forward come back again, just happy to be home. Veiga saw him score more La Liga goals than any other Spaniard, in four different seasons. Now he’s seeing it from up close.

The first time Veiga played for Celta’s first team in a 2-1 win against Valencia in September 2020, Aspas scored twice. The last time, in a 3-0 win over Rayo on Saturday evening, he saw Aspas score twice more. Of course. “Iago is the best player in the club’s history,” Veiga insists.

After the game, it was suggested to the Celta captain that one day the ground might be named after him. It won’t happen; let’s face it – it’s far more likely to be a bookies or a bank – but it would be right. Aspas is closing in on 200 goals for Celta, more than anyone else ever, and he has become probably the single most important player in Spain for his team, save