Joao Mario reportedly wanted to return to the Premier League with Spurs – but is set to swap Serie A and Inter Milan for La Liga and Real Betis instead.
Joao Mario seemed to have his heart set on a return to London.
The Portuguese international spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham from Serie A outfit Inter Milan, starting 12 Premier League games as David Moyes’ side avoided relegation to the Championship.
And The Mirror (live blog, 12.20pm) reported last week that Mario was hoping to return to the English capital with Tottenham Hotspur, whose chairman Daniel Levy was understood to be weighing up a late-bid for a player Inter were hoping to sell for £26 million.
By the time the window shut, however, Spurs had not signed Mario. In fact, they hadn’t signed anyone. Though it seems that the former Sporting Lisbon man could be on his way to Spain before the end of August.
AS are claiming that Real Betis want to sign Mario as a successor for Fabian Ruiz, the influential midfielder who moved to Napoli. Inter are open to a loan deal which contains a compulsory purchase clause and it is reported that Mario has accepted a wage cut in order to seal a move to Betis, who will be playing Europa League football this season.
If Inter are willing to let Mario leave on loan with no obligation to sign him until next year, this feels like a real missed opportunity for a Spurs side who are perhaps lacking the depth to complete on numerous fronts.
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