Tottenham are reportedly hoping to sign Barcelona’s Carles Alena.
Reports from Spanish newspaper AS today claim that Tottenham are hoping to land Barcelona talent Carles Alena – and manager Mauricio Pochettino may just have an ace up his sleeve.
Alena, 19, was born in Catalunya and came up through the ranks of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy having joined at the age of just seven.
Barcelona’s Carles Alena and Sergi Samper celebrate
The midfielder has continued to progress with Barca, scoring four goals in 38 games for the Barcelona B team before featuring in the first team last season, notching on goal in four appearances.
Yet, with just one year left on his contract and no guarantee of a regular first-team spot under new boss Ernesto Valverde, Alena could leave this summer, with AS claiming that Tottenham want to lure him to England.
The report notes that Alena’s representatives are Barcelona legend Carles Puyol and former Espanyol star Ivan De La Pena, which could give Spurs boss Pochettino the advantage he is looking for in the race for Alena’s signature.
Back in January 2016, both Puyol and De La Pena – as seen on Tottenham’s official website – visited Pochettino, observing his methods and Spurs’ training ground, before hailing the Spurs boss.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
Puyol admitted that he and Pochettino are friends despite facing each other in Barcelona v Espanyol derbies, whilst Pochettino and De La Pena were team-mates at Espanyol, with Puyol describing them as ‘close friends’.
As agents, De La Pena and Puyol will naturally be looking for the best deal for their young client, but their friendship with Pochettino and knowledge of what Tottenham can offer in terms of facilities and youth development may be something that Spurs can tap into this summer as they look to land Alena.
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