You have to feel for Pape Matar Sarr.
When joining Tottenham Hotspur during the summer of 2021, Nuno Espirito Santo was still in situ at the Premier League outfit. Less than three months later, Nuno was gone, and in his place stood a coach who’s very best sides tend to be constructed upon a platform of experience rather than youthful exuberance.
Inter Milan, shortly after Conte’s departure, had the oldest average squad in Serie A, for instance. And, during the Nerrazzuri’s Scudetto-winning 2020/21 campaign, Conte brought in a fleet battle-scarred veterans – Arturo Vidal, Aleksandr Kolarov, Ashley Young and Alexis Sanchez – hoping that their nous and big-game knowledge would be sufficient to drag Inter over the line.
He was right, too. Inter ending their decade-long wait for domestic glory.
“If you want to be competitive more quickly, I think you need players with a lot of experience,” Conte told Fabrizio Romano in February; barely attempting to hide his belief that a Tottenham side who tend to prioritise up-and-coming talent would be well-served adopting their transfer policy to make room for more experience.
“The vision of the club is this (signing young players). I understand.”
Pape Matar Sarr yet to make his Tottenham debut under Antonio Conte
It’s not hard to imagine that Conte wouldn’t have been too enamoured about the £15 million arrival of an 18-year-old midfielder with just one season of first-team football under his belt, had the Italian taken the reigns when he was first offered them following Jose Mourinho’s departure in the summer of 2021.
Sarr returned to Metz on loan for the whole of last season. Since re-locating to North London, however, the Senegal international has played more games in the World Cup than he has in the Premier League. Two to nil. Sarr’s been part of the matchday squad on five occasions under Conte, but is still awaiting his first-team debut.
According to the Daily Mail, Everton, Newcastle United and Aston Villa all lost out to Tottenham for Sarr’s signature.
And while Conte insisted, following Spurs’ 1-1 friendly draw with Nice, that he is a big fan of the one-time Ligue 1 starlet, he remains unwilling to hand Sarr the sort of opportunities that would presumably have been far easier to come by under Frank Lampard or Eddie Howe. Two coaches with a track record when it comes to blooding youngsters.
Even Djed Spence has featured more regularly. And that’s saying something.
“Pape hasn’t quite found himself playing a lot of games yet. But, from what I see in training, he’s a really talented player,” Tottenham team-mate Harry Kane said before England’s 3-0 World Cup last-16 victory over Sarr’s Senegal.
“He’s a good guy. He’s a really talented player with some great ability on the ball.”
Will the £15 million signing leave Spurs already?
According to Spanish publication Mucho Deporte, Sarr could leave Spurs without ever making a first-team appearance. Sevilla want him, alongside fellow Tottenham benchwarmer Bryan Gil. A £13 million bid may do the trick.
Only an injury to Rodrigo Bentancur stopped Sarr from leaving last summer.
“With Bentancur’s injury, the coach (Conte) decided not to let him go,” a relative of the 20-year-old explained
“The Spurs coach wanted to make sure that (Sarr) will have playing time and will grow tactically. Now, Pape Matar must fight to win (his place) in this squad.”
Four months on, it’s a fight Sarr appears to be losing.
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