Mateus Fernandes has revealed the key reason he chose to join Tottenham over Manchester United, citing conversations with manager Roberto De Zerbi and defender Pedro Porro as crucial to his decision. Fernandes, a 22-year-old Portuguese midfielder, signed with Tottenham from West Ham for a club-record fee of £85m. Despite being relegated from the Premier League with two different teams, Fernandes attracted interest from several clubs, including Manchester United.
Fernandes' decision to join Tottenham was influenced by De Zerbi's personal approach, with the manager calling him every day and speaking with his family. This personal connection was important to Fernandes, particularly since his parents do not speak English fluently. De Zerbi's promise to take care of Fernandes and be like a "second dad" in England also played a significant role in his decision.
Fernandes was also in touch with Tottenham defender Pedro Porro, a former teammate at Sporting Lisbon. Porro encouraged Fernandes to join Tottenham, saying "Come on Mateus, you need to play with us, we want you" and revealing that he had told the manager to bring Fernandes to the club. Fernandes views Porro as an important player and a top individual, and their conversation helped to reassure him about the club and its mentality.
Fernandes has already made a positive impact at Tottenham, scoring on his debut in a 1-0 pre-season friendly win over MK Dons. However, he was left out of the team's subsequent friendly matches against Sydney and Chelsea as a precautionary measure. Manager Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that Fernandes is available to play but the club does not want to take any risks with his fitness. Tottenham has two more pre-season friendlies before their Premier League opener against Brentford on August 22.
Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League last season, narrowly avoiding relegation. The club has made several new signings, including Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Andy Robertson, as they seek to improve their performance in the upcoming season. Fernandes' arrival is seen as a significant boost to the team, and his conversations with De Zerbi and Porro suggest that he is committed to helping the club achieve its goals.
