Tottenham Hotspur secured a club-record £85 million signing of Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, beating Manchester United in the race for the 22-year-old.
Fernandes, who suffered consecutive Premier League relegations with Southampton and West Ham, attracted attention from several top clubs, including United, whose interim manager Michael Carrick was keen to bring him to Old Trafford.
Why Tottenham Won the Race
Fernandes has now shared the key reasons behind his decision to join Spurs. He highlighted the persistent efforts of Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who maintained daily contact with him during the transfer window.
"He was calling me every day, so I'm very happy to work with him, and hopefully we can do great things," Fernandes told The Athletic. "It was more about feelings. He said he would take care of me, that he would be my second dad in England. I'm very happy to work with him."
Familiar Faces and Club Ambitions
Another factor that influenced Fernandes was the presence of defender Pedro Porro, a former teammate at Sporting CP in Portugal. Porro provided Fernandes with insights into Tottenham's environment and ambitions, helping him feel more comfortable about the move.
This signing signals Tottenham's determination to move past recent struggles near the relegation zone and build a stronger squad ahead of their Premier League opener against Brentford on 22 August.
