Tottenham Hotspur fought off competition from Serie A giants Inter Milan and Juventus to sign Udinese starlet Destiny Udogie, the agent of the Premier League-bound wing-back tells Tuttomercatoweb.
Earlier this month, one former Spurs boss found out the hard way why this 19-year-old Italy U21 international has so many admirers.
Udogie was the driving force behind Udinese’s 4-0 thumping of Jose Mourinho’s Roma; picking up where he left off during an exceptional breakthrough campaign at the Stadio Friuli.
Tottenham have invested an initial £18 million in Udogie. The rampaging left-wing-back, who looks tailor-made for Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 formation, will arrive in North London next summer after returning to Udinese on loan.
Tottenham Hotspur win the race to sign Destiny Udogie
“That Inter was (interested in) the player is true,” explains Stefano Antonelli, Udogie’s agent.
“But it was a deal with economic connotations that Inter could not support. It was not a viable option, although (Inter’s sporting director Piero) Ausilio created the conditions for the possibility to occur. As did Juventus.
“Tottenham have paid 20 million euros, plus 6 million more in bonuses. He has to keep doing what he knows how to do. On November 28th, he will turn 20 years old. He must continue on the path of growth, as he is doing.”
Udogie, who was also linked with Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion over the summer, now has seven goals and three assists since the start of last season from a so-called ‘defensive’ role.
His impending arrival will raise questions over the future of Ryan Sessegnon at Spurs. The former Fulham flyer has made great strides under Conte. But Sessegnon will face serious competition for his place with Udogie around.
“We all saw what sort of player he is last season,” says Udinese coach Andrea Sottil, having labelled Udogie an ‘exceptional‘ talent. “His bursts forward are important for us, and he has so much room for improvement. In his off-the-ball movement, for example.”
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