‘Really good example’: Spurs now want a player Conte thinks Dier could learn a lot from

Follow us on Google Discover

According to CalcioMercatoTV, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a move for Leonardo Bonucci.

The defender is, of course, a player that Antonio Conte knows very well from his time with the Italian national team and with Juventus, and in a lot of ways, he was the perfect defender for Conte’s system.

He has fire in his belly and plays with the intensity of Cristian Romero, while his passing makes him the perfect deep playmaker a la Virgil van Dijk.

Conte clearly loves Bonucci – he certainly used him enough for Italy and Juve, and this year he stated in a press conference that Eric Dier could learn a lot from watching Bonucci.

Good example for Dier

Conte spoke about how Dier could learn from Bonucci earlier this year.

“If you compare him with some of these important central defenders, don’t forget Eric started his career as a midfielder,” Conte said.

“In modern football it means you can use him as a central defender but also as a number four. With the ball, Bonucci can be a really good example for him. But Bonucci did a lot in his career.

“Eric has just started this process, but for sure Leo is a really good example for him because we are talking about an important player.

“He won a lot with Juventus and the national team. I hope Eric can have this type of career. Since I arrived [at Tottenham] I found many players with not much confidence. There is only one way, to try to raise this confidence.

“Especially with the players where you understand there is this quality and the space to make these players work and get them to an important level.”

Chance to mentor

With Spurs now interested in Bonucci, the Italian could eventually get his chance to mentor Eric Dier.

Yes, Dier is something of a veteran himself at this point, but you’re never too old to learn something new, and if Bonucci came in, we’re sure he’d have a trick or two to show the England international.

This could be a brilliant signing in more than one way. Not only will Spurs be getting a great defender, but Bonucci could also be a fantastic on-field coach for Dier to learn from.

This could be a very smart addition to the Tottenham squad.