Pau Torres has confirmed that he rejected a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur last summer.
The Villarreal powerhouse was heavily linked with a move to North London during Nuno Espirito Santo’s reign, of which Fabio Paratici was pulling the strings regarding incomings and outgoings.
According to AS in Spain, Tottenham had an agreement in principle to sign the Spanish defender – whose release clause is £54 million – but that the player himself wasn’t convinced by the Premier League outfit’s project.
And that report appears to be on the money.
Torres has now confirmed that he elected against joining Tottenham, revealing that he was perfectly content to remain with his boyhood club.
He said: “This summer, he [Fernando Roig] called my representative and told me there was an important offer from Tottenham, that it was worth more than now [salary].
“But as I play in the team of my town, which few players do, I decided to stay where I am happy.”
Regret
The towering Spaniard may regret that rejection in time.
Okay Tottenham are hardly pulling up any trees this season, but they’ve had Antonio Conte as manager for the past two months and would he still have rejected the chance to work under the Italian?
Well it’s possible, but there’s no denying that Conte’s name carries far more appeal in football than Nuno’s does and maybe, just maybe, he would’ve fancied an opportunity to play for the former Chelsea and Inter Milan coach.
In the end, the Lilywhites signed Cristian Romero, who has spent a chunk of his first season in North London out injured.
But even if Tottenham sign Romero on a permanent basis next summer, Conte will still want additional central defenders and perhaps Paratici can make another ‘important offer’ for the 24-year-old.
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