Davinson Sanchez admits Barcelona tried to sign him – a year before his Tottenham move

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Tottenham’s Davinson Sanchez has commented on interest from Barcelona.

Tottenham Hotspur star Davinson Sanchez has told Marca that he could have joined Barcelona back in 2016, but chose Ajax instead.

Sanchez, 21, joined Spurs last summer in a club-record deal, as manager Mauricio Pochettino saw enough in the defender to splash around £42million (Guardian) on the Colombian star.

The centre back has impressed in his first Premier League season so far, providing a solid and athletic option in between Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen when all have been available.

Sanchez’s season hasn’t been without it’s negatives; a rash red card at Watford showed his inexperience, and he also scored an own goal at Southampton on Sunday afternoon.

Spurs fans are excited about Sanchez’s future in North London, given that he has been touted to become a top centre back in the coming years – but it all could have been so different for the defender.

Sanchez starred with Atletico Nacional in his native Colombia, and whilst he earned a big move to the Eredivisie with Ajax, there has been claimed interest from Barcelona around a similar time.

Now, Sanchez has confirmed to Marca that Barcelona did attempt to sign him in 2016, but he would have been heading into their B team just months after winning the Copa Libertadores with Atletico Nacional.

Sanchez added that whilst he had little doubt that he could eventually step up into the Barca first team, he needed to play football at a higher level than Barcelona B, and chose to join Ajax instead, eventually handing him his move to Barcelona.

“It’s true that I was always linked [with Barcelona],” said Sanchez. “There was an offer on the table, but you have to think about the conditions. I had just won the Libertadores and had to go to Barcelona’s second team.”

“Although I was sure that I would finish up in the first team, because I have a lot of confidence in me and my ability to achieve important things, I played 50 games at Ajax and [that was] what I needed,” he added.