According to ESPN Serge Aurier claims he persuaded Lucas Moura to join Tottenham ahead of other clubs and says the Brazilian has moved to London to have fun again.
Our new signing finally completed a £24.5 million move to Spurs from Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday and he was introduced to a record Premier League crowd of 81,987 at half-time of our 2-0 win against Manchester United at Wembley.
Aurier spent two years with Lucas in Paris, where the pair were close on and off the pitch before making the move to London. “I’m happy. I’m really happy to have him here,”:said right-back Aurier. “I spoke a lot to him before his arrival and I reassured him. I think he made the right decision. He had other opportunities, but I think it’s the best choice for him and for his career.
Serge added: “I told him it’s an ambitious club, a beautiful club with a really good team. I think he was looking for somewhere where he could have fun again and he has come to the right team.It’s a spirited group here, which is not afraid of welcoming new players and in that regard I know what I’m talking about. So he simply made the right choice and now I just hope he’s going to adapt as quickly as possible.”
The arrivals of Kyllian Mbappe and Neymar meant Lucas was forced down the pecking order and thus only made 6 appearances so far this season.
The Brazilian joined the Ligue 1 club from Sao Paulo for £33.5m in 2013 but Aurier says he holds no grudges against PSG coach Unai Emery.
“I think he knows a coach make choices and even if he was disappointed with the amount of time he played there, he is now coming here and finding joy again,” Aurier said.
He added: “It’s important for a player to feel confidence and joy and here it’s an ambitious club, it’s a young group, it’s a really young group, I think one of the Premier League’s youngest so it’s a really good choice for him.
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Aurier also added: “Regarding the coach’s choice in Paris, I think everybody wants to play. It’s hard for everyone when a coach make his decisions, I think he understands that but I think it’s behind him today and I hope he’s going to quickly start smiling again at Tottenham.”
PSG are striding towards the Liguria 1 title and we are battling out for a Top 4 place and the article adds that Aurier was asked if Lucas had come to England to be a champion, to which the Ivorian laughed: “We are a bit late for that! But if later this year we succeed in winning something, a cup or something like that, I’m going to try and make him say thank you in English! I think it will be much appreciated by everyone.”
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