In 2005, on October 2nd, talent scouts would have been "on the ready" as Brazil took on Mexico in an Under 17 World Cup Final in Peru. Brazil's "youngsters" defied their "favourites tags" by losing 0-3 to the Mexicans, a team inspired by Carlos Vela...ring any bells? Here he is....
| Senior career* | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005 | Guadalajara | 0 | (0) |
| 2005–2012 | Arsenal | 29 | (3) |
| 2005–2006 | → Celta Vigo (loan)!! | 0 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | → Salamanca (loan) | 31 | (8) |
| 2007–2008 | → Osasuna (loan) | 33 | (3) |
| 2010–2011 | → West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 8 | (2) |
| 2011–2012 | → Real Sociedad (loan) | 35 | (12) |
| 2012–2018 | Real Sociedad | 184 | (54) |
| 2018–2024 | Los Angeles FC | 152 | (78) |
| Total | 472 | (160) | |
Vela attracted interest from a number of European clubs. Where there's World class young footballers, Arsene Wenger isn't usually too far away, so he snapped up Vela, a 16 year old potential star, for a cool £2.5 million. Arsenal won the race for his signature in November 2005, on a five-year deal for a £125,000 fee that rose to £550,000 after he played 50 first-team games. However, since English work permit restrictions for non-EU citizens prevented him from playing in England, Arsenal quickly loaned him out to Spanish club Celta Vigo in February 2006, but he was returned right away with no games played, as shown above.
There wasn't much South American skill on show at Selhurst Park in 1991 on this date, as Wimbledon and Sheffield Wednesday played in front of the lowest "top-flight" audience since ther Second World War as just 3,121 turned out to see the Dons beat Wednesday 2-1.
