Summer Spurs target Cengiz Under comments on Roma switch

Follow us on Google Discover

Cengiz Under was heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur during the summer.

Summer Tottenham Hotspur target Cengiz Under has told The Guardian that Roma chief Monchi played a pivotal role in convincing him to join the Italian giants ahead of other suitors.

The 20-year-old joined Roma in an £11.7 million deal in the summer following weeks of speculation linking him with Tottenham and Manchester City.

Turkish outlet Ajanspor had previously reported that Spurs had struck a deal with Basaksheir to sign the young attacker.

Now, Under has revealed to The Guardian that the Italian club’s Director of Football convinced him to join after promising him first-team opportunities and not viewing him as a prospect.

“I was convinced after we heard Monchi’s plan. Monchi explained they were making big changes.

“He made it clear that he wanted me as a player for the first-team squad, not as a future prospect. He valued me as a footballer in my own right now, as a rising star with potential.”

It seems possible that Tottenham could not give Under the same assurances over regular football, prompting him to jump at the chance to join a club who could.

You can’t blame Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, if that was the case.

Under, who turned 20 on the same day he joined Roma, scored seven goals from left wing last season but he was far from an established player who deserved to walk into Pochettino’s best XI.

He has made six Serie A appearances this season, three of which came from the start, but has been an unused substitute in his last three matchday squad inclusions.