adminMateus Fernandes has made a powerful statement about his personal ambitions and those of Tottenham Hotspur during his first official interview since joining the club.
Tottenham have invested £185 million in a major midfield overhaul, with £85 million of that sum going to West Ham United for Fernandes. He is now the second player in the past year to swap east London for N17.
The Portuguese midfielder turned down Manchester United in favour of Spurs, convinced by the vision laid out by manager Roberto De Zerbi.
De Zerbi has already indicated that Fernandes will play a central role in his tactical plans, and the 21-year-old has now spoken openly about what he hopes to achieve under the Italian in North London.
New Spurs signing targets Premier League glory
In his debut chat with the club’s official media channels, Fernandes expressed his enthusiasm about joining a club of Tottenham’s stature and made it clear that his goal is to challenge for the Premier League title.
Reflecting on the transfer, he told Spurs’ website: “I’m very happy, I’m very excited for this next step. Of course, it’s a massive club. I already know the city, the country. I spoke with the manager. I think he was the main key for me to join Tottenham and the project. We will fight for the Premier League. We will fight for the first place.”
The former West Ham man believes he is well-prepared for the high expectations at Tottenham, having adapted to the rigours of English football over the past two seasons.
Fernandes continued: “Now, I’m more ready to be on this level, because when I joined Southampton, my English was very bad. I just spoke Portuguese and Spanish, and no one spoke Portuguese and Spanish there. It was just English. So, this helped me a lot. I was living alone. Now I have my girlfriend, I have my family here. I’m stronger now, so I’m ready for the next steps. That’s it, everything is about trying to improve.
“Now I’m going to the club with a different pressure, with maybe a different mentality. What I believe, what I can do – I believe in me. I know that I can improve the team and improve the club. I’m here to help the team, to help the manager and improve with him as well. I’m ready for this next step. I’m ready for this pressure. It’s one thing that I work for. I’m very excited to play for a big club, for a manager that wants to win titles.”
Fernandes consulted Pedro Porro before making the switch
The midfielder will find a familiar face in the Spurs dressing room, having previously lined up alongside Pedro Porro at Sporting Lisbon.
Fernandes revealed that the Spaniard spoke highly of the club, the manager, and the overall environment.
He added: “I spoke with Pedro Porro. I played with him at Sporting, and he spoke about everything. He spoke about the manager, the mentality change in the group, the training ground, the stadium. Of course, London, it’s a city that I know now, but he spoke about the city as well.
“He told me many, many good things about the club, so I’m ready. I told him, ‘I’m ready to fight for titles,’ and this is our way. Now, I try to do my best.”
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