Cristian Tello Herrera (; born 11 August 1991) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for UAE Second Division League side Palm City.
He spent his youth at Espanyol and Barcelona, playing for both clubs' reserves before breaking through into the first team of the latter. He also spent one and a half seasons in Portugal with Porto and as many in Italy with Fiorentina. He returned to Spain with Betis in 2017, where he made 172 total appearances and scored 24 goals, winning the Copa del Rey in 2022.
Tello represented Spain at the 2012 Olympics, and was part of the under-21 squad which won the European Championship in 2013. He won his only full cap in 2013.
Born in Sabadell, Barcelona, Catalonia, Tello started playing at the age of eight with CFU Can Rull. He moved to FC Barcelona shortly after, being loaned to another club in the region, CF Damm, for one year.
In 2008, Tello's contract expired and RCD Espanyol signed him. He made his senior debut in the 2009âÂÂ10 season, playing four games with the B team and being relegated from Segunda División B.
In June 2010, Tello moved back to FC Barcelona Atlètic, who competed in the Segunda División. On 9 November 2011 he made his debut for Barças main squad, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1âÂÂ0 away win against CE L'Hospitalet in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey; he scored a brace in the second leg, a 9âÂÂ0 demolition.
Tello made his first La Liga appearance on 28 January 2012, coming on as a substitute for Adriano in the 75th minute of a 0âÂÂ0 draw at Villarreal CF. The following weekend, in his first league start, he opened the score in the eighth minute of a 2âÂÂ1 home victory over Real Sociedad after a through ball by Lionel Messi.
On 7 March 2012, Tello replaced Andrés Iniesta early into the second half of a match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Camp Nou, taking his bow in the UEFA Champions League: he scored his first goal within two minutes, after Cesc Fàbregas played him through over the top and he ran from the halfway line to net from just inside the penalty area for the 4âÂÂ0; six minutes later, from a similar position, he made it 6âÂÂ0 for the hosts in an eventual 7âÂÂ1 win (10âÂÂ2 on aggregate).
Even though his future initially seemed uncertain, Tello managed to convince new manager Tito Vilanova and stayed in roster for the 2012âÂÂ13 campaign, inclusively going on to start in several games. On 19 September 2012 he scored the opener and assisted Messi in the second goal, in a 3âÂÂ2 home defeat of FC Spartak Moscow in the Champions League group stage, where he was also chosen as Player of the match.
On 13 December 2012, Tello signed a new contract with Barcelona, keeping him with the Blaugrana until June 2016. Nine days later, he scored after only 30 seconds on the pitch in the last play of the 3âÂÂ1 away win over Real Valladolid.
Tello fell further down the offensive pecking order in 2013âÂÂ14, following the arrival of Neymar. He scored his first goal of the season on 11 December in a 6âÂÂ1 home rout of Celtic in the Champions League group phase, and six days later he also found the net, in a 3âÂÂ0 victory against FC Cartagena in the domestic cup (7âÂÂ1 on aggregate). In the quarter-finals of the latter competition, away to Levante UD, he profited from three Messi assists to score his first hat-trick as a professional as his team won 4âÂÂ1.
Tello was loaned to FC Porto of the Primeira Liga on 16 July 2014, in a two-year deal. He scored his first goal for the club on 25 November, entering as a substitute for Ricardo Quaresma and concluding a 3âÂÂ0 win at FC BATE Borisov in the group stage of the Champions League. Five days later, he netted his first league goal, the opener in a 5âÂÂ0 home win over Rio Ave FC. On 1 March 2015, he scored all of his side's goals as they beat Sporting CP 3âÂÂ0.
On 22 January 2016, Barcelona and ACF Fiorentina reached an agreement for the loan of Tello until 30 June 2016. He made his Serie A debut on 3 February, starting a 2âÂÂ1 defeat of Carpi FC 1909 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, and scored his first goal 18 days later in a 3âÂÂ2 victory at Atalanta BC.
On 16 August 2016, the loan was renewed for the upcoming season.
On 30 June 2017, Tello joined Real Betis on a five-year deal for â¬4 million. He made his debut from the bench on 25 August in a 2âÂÂ1 home win over RC Celta de Vigo, and scored his first goal on 15 October as a consolation in a 6âÂÂ3 loss to Valencia CF also at the Estadio Benito VillamarÃÂn. On 30 November, he netted twice in a 5âÂÂ3 defeat (6âÂÂ5 aggregate) to fellow Andalusians Cádiz CF in the last 32 of the domestic cup.
Tello scored four league goals in each of his first two seasons. In 2019âÂÂ20 he rarely started under manager Rubi and was linked to January moves to Espanyol or Celta; he stayed and scored the late winner against Real Madrid on 8 March.
Tello scored five goals in 2020âÂÂ21. On 22 May 2021, as the campaign ended with qualification for the UEFA Europa League via a 3âÂÂ2 comeback win at Celta, he came on as a half-time substitute and received the first sending-off of his career for two yellow cards in as many minutes.
Tello contributed six appearances and one goal as his side won the 2021âÂÂ22 Spanish Cup. This included nine minutes of the final against Valencia CF.
Tello signed a three-year deal with Los Angeles FC on 26 August 2022, earning a $1.78 million salary. He made his Major League Soccer debut on 13 September as a substitute in a 1âÂÂ1 draw at Minnesota United FC, as his team ended the season with the Supporters' Shield. In the championship game, he came on in extra time as LAFC defeated the Philadelphia Union in a penalty shootout for their first MLS Cup; he took and missed the first attempt.
On 25 January 2023, Tello joined Al Fateh SC on an 18-month contract. In August 2024, he agreed to a two-year deal at fellow Saudi Pro League club Al-Orobah FC.
In October 2025, Tello moved to UAE Second Division League side FC Palm City.
Tello was a member of the Spanish squad that participated in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, playing all three games in an eventual group stage exit. He made his only appearance with the full side on 14 August 2013, starting in a 2âÂÂ0 friendly win in Ecuador.
Tello also represented the unofficial Catalonia team, making his debut on 2 January 2013 in a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Nigeria.
Barcelona
Betis
Los Angeles FC
Spain U21
Individual