Ange Postecoglou speaking at a Tottenham press conference. (Image: Getty.)
denied that Mathys Tel ever rejected and shed light on a “conversation” between the two which convinced the forward to move to Spurs, rather than or .
There were widespread reports that the after the chairman had flown to to complete a transfer.
He had agreed a £50million deal with the side to buy Tel outright, but that collapsed and the club ended up signing the teenager on loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy for the same price.
The likes of and made reported advances to Tel and Bayern once that permanent move fell apart, but he picked Spurs and Postecoglou got the attacking reinforcement he was hoping for.
“I think that’s a simplistic way of looking at it,” Postecoglou said when asked about reports that Tel had initially turned them down. “People need to understand we’re talking about a 19-year-old player with a major decision.
“It’s not so much about rejecting us or anyone. He wanted to be comfortable with the decision. He didn’t want to be pushed in a certain direction, credit to him.
“I had a conversation with him and purely around the football and that I think he’ll find a great place here in terms of where he is in his career. We’ve shown irrespective of age, he’ll get an opportunity, and the way we play will suit him and what we have in the next few months and beyond, it’s a perfect fit.
Mathys Tel will play for Tottenham until at least the end of the season. (Image: Getty)
“It’s right that it took as long as it did so he’s comfortable with it. That he took so much time and was diligent, and made the decision when he had options, it meant the right mentality, right player, he’s ambitious, with self belief and self confidence and feels he can reach the very top.”
Postecoglou also confirmed that both Tel and fellow new signing Kevin Danso had been cleared to make their debuts in the semi-final second leg against .
With an injury crisis continuing to plague Spurs, both players are likely to feature at least off the bench, though Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero will not be involved, despite .
“He (Van de Ven) got through the game (against Elfsborg) no problem but the is a whole different beast,” Postecoglou explained. “But, after losing Radu (Dragusin), I sat down and though about what we had ahead of us still… I feel like we’ve got to be more conservative.
“Don’t get me wrong, we have a couple of massive games this week for sure but we have also afforded ourselves a couple of weeks without midweek fixtures. Beyond that, Europe kicks in, which is massive for us, hopefully we’re in a final in the Carabao Cup, hopefully we’re still in the . I just don’t see the sense right now in risking that.
“Having Kevin (Danso) in is a massive bonus for us. He hasn’t reinjured the injury or anything like that. I just feel we need to get more into him, I think he feels he needs to get more into him, same with Romero, so it will just be a wait and see approach.”