Tottenham Hotspur showed an interest in Andre Onana before the former Inter Milan goalkeeper secured a £47 million move to Premier League rivals Manchester United.
That is according to Albert Botines; Andre Onana’s agent explaining to Calciomercato how that protracted switch to Old Trafford came about.
Onana, he says, reunited with former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag at Manchester United only after a number of rival Premier League clubs came calling. Tottenham Hotspur among them.
Manchester United beat Tottenham to Andre Onana
Spurs found themselves in a similar position to the Red Devils at the end of last term; under pressure to replace an ageing, declining club-record with a younger, more technically-capable number one.
“It all started a few months ago. Towards April, many inquired about the player. Tottenham asked for information,” Botines reveals, adding that Chelsea also had a meeting with the Inter Milan bosses in London.
Ten Hag, Botines adds, was ‘key’ to Onana choosing Man United instead. The 27-year-old won three Eredivisie titles under the former Ajax boss in the Netherlands after all.
Tottenham, meanwhile, also turned to Serie A in pursuit of a new first-choice goalkeeper. Guglielmo Vicario, a £17 million acquisition from Empoli, arrives to take the place of Hugo Lloris.
Ironically, Vicario could have inherited Onana’s shirt at Inter before opting for a completely fresh start in England instead.
Guglielmo Vicario in at Tottenham
“Inter called me until the last available day,” Empoli president Fabrizio Corsi tells Tuttomercatoweb. “But we had already received documents from the correct people (at Tottenham).
“There were two Italian teams, maybe three (interested in Vicario).
“Apart from the great satisfaction of being able to sell to one of the most prestigious and important clubs in English football, which is a reference at every level, we are talking about a footballer and a phenomenal person,” Corsi adds.
“We said goodbye today. And I reiterated that I congratulate his parents for the great job.
“The deal gives Empoli a great boost and an international image. It was unthinkable 20 years ago, or even ten, to make transfers of this type. Now, all our young players have proof (that they can go onto great things here).
“Because we, in addition to making them grow, launch them.”
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