Frenkie De Jong says he could’ve joined Tottenham Hotspur last summer.
Frenkie De Jong has revealed to Four Four Two that he turned down the chance to join Tottenham Hotspur last summer.
The Ajax sensation has agreed to join Barcelona in a £65.3 million deal [The Sun] in July.
Sky Sports reported last January that Tottenham were keen on the 21-year-old midfielder.
De Jong spent a period of last season on the sidelines through injury, and although he admits that the prospect of working under Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino was tempting, the youngster claims that he felt an obligation to remain in Amsterdam for another season.
“The moment wasn’t right. I wasn’t finished at Ajax, as I hadn’t yet played a full season in my own position,” he told the May edition of Four Four Two.
“I considered their [Spurs’] offer long and hard. I see Tottenham as a very stable club, and they are only getting better. They give young players a chance and I see Mauricio Pochettino as a manager who really improves young players.
“I like the kind of football they are playing. I think it would have suited my game.”
This revelation changes the complexion of Tottenham’s summer transfer window, when the Lilywhites failed to sign anybody.
For a long time it looked like the North Londoners were going to sign Jack Grealish, but it seems apparent now that the Aston Villa midfielder was a plan-b option after De Jong rejected Pochettino’s overtures.
With Mousa Dembele gone to China, De Jong would have been an exceptional long-term replacement.
Pochettino and chairman Daniel Levy will hope to have more success in luring top talent to their £1 billion new stadium this summer.
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