Troy Parrott has admitted that he rejected an approach from Celtic to sign for Tottenham Hotspur back in 2017.
The young striker left Belvedere in the Republic of Ireland to make the move to North London three years ago.
He admitted that, while Celtic wanted him back following a successful trial in Glasgow, he had his heart set on a move to Spurs as soon as he set foot in the club.
The teenager also claimed that he had the same feeling during his first few days on loan at Millwall. Speaking to London News Online, the 18-year-old said: “I like to think they are one of the best schoolboy teams in Dublin. I was in trials for some other clubs as well.
“I don’t know who came from Tottenham to scout me but then I got told by Belvedere that they wanted to take me.
“I had been on trial at Celtic and they wanted to have me back. But as soon as I went to Spurs I felt at home.
“It is a bit like that at Millwall – as soon as I spoke to Gary [Rowett] and the people at Millwall I had the same feeling as when I first went to Spurs. That’s one of the main reasons I picked there.”
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The striker insisted that he was the one who chose to go on loan to Millwall after having a conversation with his Ireland Under-21 teammate, Jayson Molumby, who spent last season on loan at The Den from Brighton.
Parrott said: “It was Spurs’ decision whether they were going to let me go – but picking a club was all my decision.
“I heard a lot of good things about the place – I’m good mates with Jay and he told me a lot.
“I’ve known him a year or two because we’ve both been in the Ireland set-up. I get along really well with him. We became mates really fast.
“I heard Jay played 38 games last season and everyone who talks about that says he did really well. Hopefully, I can do the same.”
The teenager admitted that he has been made to feel at home by his new teammates and that he was excited to test himself in the Championship.
He added: “Whatever I do and wherever I go in life it is about the people. Everyone here has made me feel welcome – that’s been the case again in my first few days at Millwall.
“The lads have made it so easy so far. It’s just little things – like coming up to me if I’m sitting on my own. They’ve made me feel part of it.
“Shauny [Williams] is helping me settle in. But, to be fair, I can’t just mention Shauny because all of the lads have been like that.
“The conversation I had [with Rowett in the summer] was really basic. It was just getting to know him and I really like what I’ve seen from Gary and also what I saw last season. Millwall came eighth last season and weren’t far off a play-off push.
“I’ve been watching the Championship since I was young – it’s always looked good and a really exciting league. I can’t wait to get going.
“I’ve already said how little it takes to get the [Millwall] fans off their seats and that is something I want to experience this season.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Regardless of whether Parrott’s loan spell at Millwall goes well, it will still be a great learning experience for the young striker. It will likely take him a couple of months to get used to the intensity and pace of the Championship. Hopefully, he finds the back of the net early in the season in order to settle his nerves.
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