A move to one of the Serie A giants was Destiny Udogie’s ‘first goal’ before Tottenham Hotspur struck a £17 million to bring the Udinese youngster to the Premier League.
If his performance during Italy’s 2-1 defeat by France at the U21 European Championships last week is anything to go by, patience may be a virtue with Destiny Udogie.
His pace and potential is clear to see. But the jet-heeled left-wing back also has his fair share of rough edges. His decision making against Les Bleus left a lot to be desired at times. Udogie’s defensive awareness too; the Tottenham Hotspur newbie robbed within the markings of his own penalty area as Bradley Barcola snatched back possession and fired home the winner.
Spurs invest £17m for Destiny Udogie
Tottenham are not paying £17 million for the player Udogie is today, however, but for the player he could become.
It speaks volumes about how highly he is regarded in Italy that both Juventus and Inter Milan showed an interest before Spurs reached an agreement with Udogie in August 2022; loaning the former Hellas Verona whizzkid back to the Stadio Fruili for the whole of last season.
That Udogie will end up in England rather than in Milan or Turin, meanwhile, appears to owe much to the superior spending power on behalf of the Premier League outfit. A point furthered by the impending departure of AC Milan star Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United.
“Before deciding to go and accept Tottenham’s offer in August last year, we visited the tables of Italian football teams many times,,” his agent, Stefano Antonelli, tels Radio CRC. “Because we wanted to stay here.
“Everyone liked him. But negotiating from an economic point of view has always been difficult
“Going to Tottenham is something beautiful, and he is happy to go there. Remaining in Italy, however, was the first goal.”
‘Amazing player’
The departures of Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici in the spring cast doubt on Udogie’s future in North London but Antonelli insists that a first-team role still beckons for his client in the English capital.
Ange Postecoglou’s proactive, up-and-at-em style should suit Udogie well. Even if there is no obvious place in the former Celtic boss’s system for a player arguably most effective as a wing-back.
“Udo, for me, is the best left back in Serie A,” Udinese team-mate Lazar Samardzic tells the Italian Football Podcast. “He can do everything. And, at Tottenham, I think he will be an important player next year.
“So yeah – he’s an amazing player.”
Udogie scored three goals and set up four more in 2022/23.
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