For a variety of reasons, the Fabio Paratici era at Tottenham Hotspur did not really go to plan.
But, still, the Italian left a legacy at the Premier League giants following his less-than two-year spell in North London between 2021 and his resignation in April 2023. It was Paratici, after all, who masterminded a deal which is proving to be one of the most inspired acquisitions in Tottenham Hotspur’s recent history.
Yes, he’s still raw. Yes, there are a few rough edges.
But when you consider the size of his price-tag – Tottenham Hotspur paid just £21 million – and the fact that his 22nd birthday is still months away, Paratici’s pursuit and eventual purchase of Destiny Udogie was quite the parting gift.
Destiny Udogie an excellent Tottenham Hotspur signing
“Football is made up of moments,” Stefano Antonelli, Udogie’s agent, tells Tuttomercatoweb. “At that moment, Paratici was very good at removing him from the market and then leaving him on loan to Udinese.”
Tottenham signed Udogie in the summer of 2022 before sending him back to Udinese for that following campaign. The Italy international, who is all-but certain to have a place in Luciano Spalletti’s squad for the upcoming European Championships, eventually arrived in the English capital having established himself as one of the most exciting young full-backs in the game.
Had Paratici not agreed a deal in 2022, it’s not difficult to imagine Udinese demanding far more than £21 million 12 months later down the line.
“If another year had passed, I’m sure that Inter (Milan) or Juventus would have taken him,” Antonelli adds. “But that wasn’t the time for them to spend the 25 million (euros) that Tottenham paid.
“I don’t think now there are any more conditions, the economic and technical space, to return to Italy.”
Inter and Juventus’ loss, then, is very much Tottenham’s gain.
Udogie is not only one of the first names on Spurs’ team sheet, he is also the prototype Ange Postecoglou player, displaying the tenacity, the box-to-box energy and the tactical flexibility the Aussie admires. Udogie is not merely a left-back but an extra midfielder too, and even a number ten at times, such is the positions he takes up on the pitch.
Juventus and Inter Milan were interetested
“We have a great relationship because we’re Italian,” Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario tells FourFourTwo. “We spend loads of time together at the training ground.
“I try to push him to do extra work. Maybe not just to train but also to come with me to the gym, because he’s got huge potential. He can still improve a lot.
“He’s not simply one of the best left-backs in the Premier League, but also the world. He’s only 21, so he must have the drive inside him to improve day-by-day.
“I try to push him.”
Udogie started again as Spurs beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 in a hard-fought encounter on Sunday. Defenders Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro scored after Murrillo’s own goal opened the scoring.
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