As reported in his column for London Evening Standard, Harry Redknapp has revealed that Arsenal star Santi Cazorla wanted to sign for Tottenham Hotspur before turning up at the Emirates in 2012.
The Spain international is now a key member of the Gunners’ starting Xi, registering 158 appearances and 27 goals since signing for the north London outfit three summers ago.
He scored in Arsenal’s 3-2 FA Cup final win against Hull City in 2014, helping secure the Gunners’ first trophy for nine years, and over the last 18 months has particularly impressed in deep midfield – a role which has seen him average the second-most chances per-match, four, of any Premier League player this season.
But Harry Redknapp, who held the White Hart Lane hotseat from 2008 to 2012, has now revealed that Cazorla came very close to joining local rivals Tottenham in 2010 when he was developing quite the reputation at Villarreal.
The former West Ham, Portsmouth and QPR boss wrote in his column; “[Cazorla] was fantastic against us for Villarreal in a pre-season friendly in July 2010. I went up to Everton to watch him play again a week later and then we spoke to Villarreal. Santi wanted to come.
“He was happy to join Spurs but there was a breakdown in talks over the fee. The deal was almost done but it got lost somewhere in the negotiations between Tottenham and Villarreal. It was a transfer that could and should have been done. He ended up being another one who got away.”
Also in the news this week:
Arsenal eyeing La Liga’s top scorer in reasonably priced January swoop
Ronaldo, a bottle of wine and Manchester United
Newcastle join Arsenal in race for Belgium strike prodigy
Spurs considering January swoop for former Chelsea starlet
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