Noni Madueke believes that his decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur as a 16-year-old to join PSV Eindhoven has proven to be the right call.
Madueke left the Tottenham academy ranks in the summer of 2018 having previously been with Crystal Palace, and made the move to the Dutch giants in search of first-team football.
The attacker was highly thought of by former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, but decided to reject a new contract offer from the North Londoners along with similar approaches from Manchester United and Chelsea to head to the continent (The Sun).
Madueke, 19, was given a taste of regular first-team football at PSV last season, where he made 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists in the process (transfermarkt).
The Barnet-born product has started the new campaign in impressive fashion, having terrorised rivals Ajax in the Johan Cruyff Shield last month, scoring twice in the 4-0 thrashing.
He told The Mirror on his decision to move abroad at a young age: “At 16 year old I felt I was ready for a first team. I backed myself 100percent. I am very impatient!
“The quicker you get young talents into first team football the quicker they get ahead of the talent of other nations.
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“At PSV I am important for my team, scoring goals, and doing my job as an attacker. It’s been a good start for us, we are first in the league at the moment, with the downside of not qualifying for the Champions League.
“I have high expectations of myself. I feel I can be one of the best players in the league and that’s what I want to do.
“Holland is nice. It is quieter than London. It minimises distractions being away, and the focus is on football.
“In terms of signing a new deal I feel comfortable committing my future to PSV at this point. I am playing happy.”
He was linked with a move back to Tottenham during the summer transfer window (Sky Sports) but instead decided to pledge his future to PSV by signing a new four-year contract.
When asked if there was interest in him this summer, he added: “Yeah when you are doing well there is always interest. It is best to stay at PSV this summer. It is the right decision.
“The Premier League is the best league in the world and every young English player wants to be there.
“But also I am not someone who is afraid to venture elsewhere so whatever is best for my development, whichever country, I am a person who won’t be scared to take the leap.”
SpursWeb Opinion
Tottenham lost a gem when Madueke decided to walk away, but it has proven to be the right choice for his own career.
Being a boyhood Spurs fan, hopefully Madueke has the desire to return to North London in the future to continue his unfinished buisness at the club.
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