Juventus star Miralem Pjanic rejected Tottenham six almost six years ago.
Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic has told the Telegraph that he decided to turn down a move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2012 because he was happy at Roma.
The 27-year-old faces Mauricio Pochettino’s side in Turin on Tuesday night as Juve and Spurs go head to head in the first leg of their Round of 16 Champions League tie. But Pjanic could have been playing on the opposite side.
Spurs are said to have wanted to sign the Bosnia international to replace Luka Modric, with the fellow Eastern European midfielder moving to Real Madrid in 2012. However, Pjanic decided to remain with Roma.
He has since signed for Italian champions Juve, back in the summer of 2016. Nicknamed the “regista”, or “the pianist” in English, Pjanic is now expected to orchestrate the Italian champions’ attacks against a side he could have joined.
“There was the opportunity but at that moment I told them I was happy where I was and that’s why we didn’t sign the deal,” Pjanic said. “But I made my choice using my head and if I made that choice not to go to an English team it was for good reasons.”
The assist machine has been in excellent form for Juve this season, scoring five goals and turning provider on a further nine occasions and it will be his set-pieces that Spurs must watch out for.
Pochettino is expected to have a full compliment of players to choose from except from defender Toby Alderweireld, who has remained in north London to continue rebuilding his fitness.
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