Mateus Fernandes shares why he chose Tottenham over Man Utd
Mateus Fernandes has shared some interesting reasons why he chose to join Tottenham this summer, even though Manchester United was also very keen on signing him.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who impressed a lot while playing for West Ham last season, moved to Tottenham in early July for a club-record £85 million.
Before signing with Spurs, several big clubs showed interest in Fernandes, including Arsenal, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United. At one point, United saw him as a top target, but they didn’t want to match Spurs’ offer after talks with his agent, Jorge Mendes.
According to a BBC report, United weren’t sure Fernandes really wanted to play for them and instead went after other players like Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
Now, Fernandes has opened up about why he picked Tottenham. He said that both coach Roberto De Zerbi and teammate Pedro Porro played a big part in his decision.
In an interview with The Athletic, Fernandes explained, “I wanted to play for a big club, win games, and fight for the Premier League title.” He added that De Zerbi’s daily calls to him and his family made a huge difference. Since his parents don’t speak much English, the connection was more about trust and feelings. De Zerbi promised to look after him like a second dad in England, which made Fernandes very happy.
Fernandes also talked about how Portuguese teammate Pedro Porro encouraged him. “Porro called me and said, ‘Come on Mateus, you need to play with us, we want you here. I told the manager to bring you.’ After that, I talked with him about the club, the team’s mindset, and the players. He’s one of the best right-backs in the world and a great guy.”
Although West Ham was relegated, Fernandes stood out as one of the Premier League’s top midfielders, especially for covering lots of ground. At 22, he mainly plays as a creative number 8 but can also break through defenses with smart passes and dribbles.
Spurs coach De Zerbi praised Fernandes highly when he arrived, saying, “I’ve admired Mateus for a long time because he has quality, intensity, and intelligence — exactly what we need. Even though he’s young, he already knows the Premier League well and has been consistent. He stays calm under pressure, works hard, and isn’t afraid to take risks in tough moments. I believe Tottenham is the perfect place for him to keep growing.”