Thierry Henry claims Spurs ‘didn’t believe in’ 23-year-old – Compares to Maradona

Thierry Henry has praised Marcus Edwards for having the courage to move to Portugal to build his football career after failing to make it at Tottenham.

Edwards was highly thought of while coming through the ranks of the Spurs academy and was handed his first-team debut by Mauricio Pochettino back in 2016, aged just 17. 

However, the winger departed the North London club in 2019 in search of regular first-team football, and his decision has certainly been vindicated.

After a couple of impressive seasons at Vitoria Guimaraes, the 23-year-old was snapped up by Sporting Lisbon in January of this year and has not looked back since.

Edwards has already notched up five goals and five assists for Ruben Amorim’s side so far this season (Transfermarkt), including a brilliant long-range strike at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last week as Sporting held Spurs to a 1-1 draw.

Henry has credited the Tottenham academy graduate for opting for a path that is not often travelled by young English players.

The Arsenal legend told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (01/11/22 at 7:50 pm) about Edwards: “He has had an interesting journey. I like what he did. Usually, guys, from a certain area in England, tend to stay in and around the area when they are not being successful at that club. 

“So, obviously they didn’t believe in him at Tottenham. He played against Gillingham, as well all know. But he went to Guimaraes, and I watched that game, I was like ‘Marcus Edwards, isn’t he the guy that was at Tottenham?’ Then it was him.

“From him being at Guimaraes, he went to Sporting, then next thing you know, that’s his first Champions League game, Frankfurt away, his first goal and first start in the Champions League.

“Then an assist. He has an eye for a pass. We saw what he did against Tottenham, at home. We all screamed, to be honest, because, what he did there, looked a bit like what Maradona did against England. Although he didn’t score. 

“But I like what he did. He went to have a career instead of staying in and around the place. In and around London. He went to Guimaraes to have a career. Then we all know what he did scoring against Tottenham like he did against Arsenal.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Edwards certainly deserves credit for taking the leap to go to Portugal as there would have not been any shortage of interest from English clubs when he left Spurs.

If he had not performed well at Vitoria Guimaraes, his career could have quickly gone into obscurity but he believed in his ability and backed himself to perform if he got regular opportunities under his belt.

Related Topics