Moussa Dembele has cited Bruce Lee as a major influence on his decision to quit Tottenham for China in the last 24 hours.
The Belgian international completed his transfer to Guangzhou R&F from Spurs for a fee of around £11 million on Thursday, and suggested that his new destination was partially decided because of his love of martial arts films.
The 31-year-old said, as quoted in the Daily Mail: “I chose China because I needed something new.
“Other clubs in Europe and Qatar were also a possibility but the adventure at Guangzhou was the most interesting.
“I’ve always been a fan of martial arts actor Bruce Lee. His films made me want to go to China one day.
“Of course the financial aspect played a part but I want to throw myself completely into the football.”
OPINION
Losing Moussa Dembele has felt like an inevitability for a while now, and for all he has done for the club, it was probably the right time to let him go. Injuries have taken their toll, and he is not the player he was a couple of seasons ago. A move to China will suit him both physically and financially, and he thoroughy deserves one last lucrative pay day in a league that plays at a lower intensity to the top tier in England. Citing Bruce Lee as an influence is a nice little quirk, and for all it sounds like a line fed to the media, it probably holds a grain of truth. China will be new and exciting to Dembele, much more than a move to Europe would have been, and he’s at a point in his career where a different kind of adventure will be readily welcomed.