Cagliari sporting director Stefano Capozucca has admitted that Nahitan Nandez held talks with several clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, over a potential summer transfer.
While Tottenham were fairly busy during the summer transfer window in terms of both incomings and outgoings, the one area the club failed to strengthen significantly was central midfield.
Metz starlet Pape Matar Sarr was the only midfield addition for Spurs, with the North London club loaning the teenager back to the Ligue 1 club for the season.
One midfield player who Tottenham were heavily linked with over the course of the transfer window was Nandez, with reports stating the Uruguay international had put in a transfer request and was keen on completing a move to Spurs.
However, the transfer did not materialise, with sources suggesting that Tottenham pulled out of the deal since they found Cagliari’s €30m (£25.7m) asking price to be excessive.
Capozucca has now shed more light on Nandez’s situation, admitting the 25-year-old was intent on leaving.
He told L’Unione Sarda (as relayed by Tuttomercatoweb): “It must be understood that everyone has the ambition to be able to improve themselves.
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“Nandez wanted to join a top club. He had talks with Inter, Tottenham, Rome and Napoli. It’s normal he thought he could leave.
“Nandez, however, is also a spectacular boy as well as a great player and, in the end, common sense will prevail and, as demonstrated against Spezia (in a 2-2 draw in August), he was one of the best. He will give his all for Cagliari.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I was not overly disappointed when the club’s pursuit of Nandez fell through as I was not convinced the Uruguayan would be anything more than a squad player for us.
Nandez is certainly a level below the other midfielders Paratici was rumoured to be after, including Ruben Neves and Franck Kessie.
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