Ajax's De Jong reveals that he was close to signing for Tottenham
Frenkie will instead move to Barcelona this summer for 75 million euros
Before signing for Barcelona, there were a lot of teams interested in signing Frenkie de Jong. If in recent months if was Paris Saint-Germain pressing hard -- and almost landing him -- last year he rejected a very tempting offer from Tottenham, a team he was open to signing for.
"The moment wasn’t right," De Jong told Four Four Two magazine. "I wasn’t finished at Ajax, as I hadn’t yet played a full season in my own position. I was also injured in that period, so I was thinking, 'Not yet.' I felt I should stay for another year at Ajax, or perhaps longer."
The Dutch international admitted the chance to play under Mauricio Pochettino and play alongside Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen in the Premier League was attractive.
"I considered their [Spurs’] offer long and hard," he added. "I see Tottenham as a very stable club, and they are only getting better. They give young players a chance and I see Mauricio Pochettino as a manager who really improves young players. I like the kind of football they are playing. I think it would have suited my game."
De Jong, instead, will join Barcelona in the summer for an initial 75 million euros: "I have always to play for Barça. The money they offered Ajax showed how serious they were. Of course, that doesn't mean I will start, but everything at Barcelona is nice. My family agreed that I had to try it and I will do everything in my power to succeed there."
