Journalist claims £23m Spurs signing was not Pochettino’s priority

Lucas Moura etched his name in Tottenham Hotspur folklore when he netted the equaliser against Barcelona on Tuesday night to book the club’s place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague, who was the author of Mauricio Pochettino’s recent book Brave New World has claimed that Moura was not top of the Tottenham bosses’ shopping list.

Moura joined Spurs from PSG last January for £23million (BBC) and took time to settle in at his new club during his first season.

With a full preseason under his belt, the Brazlian international has shown his true worth during the current campaign that saw him named as the Premier League Player of the Month in August.

He has already scored seven goals in twenty two appearances this season and has shown that he can add an extra dimension to the Tottenham attack with his raw pace and ability to dribble past defenders.

Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily (11/12): “I got the impression that Lucas Moura was not a signing Pochettino looked for.

“He says ‘what do I do with this?’. It affected the team, a move to a 4-4-2, things that were not planned, but eventually, as happens with so many players, the player has adapted and has fitted in so well in the Spurs style.

“I’m not sure its what they needed, but he’s what they got, and they have made best of what they have.”