Mateus Fernandes Reveals Why He Chose Tottenham Over Manchester United

Fernandes also credited Pedro Porro for encouraging the move, while De Zerbi promised to support him like a second father in England. In the summer transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur secured the signing of 22 year old midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United for a club record fee of £85 million, despite strong interest from Manchester United and several other European giants. Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain were also linked with the Portuguese midfielder, but Spurs ultimately won the race for his signature. Fernandes revealed that Tottenham's ambition to compete for the Premier League title and the personal approach of head coach Roberto De Zerbi played the biggest role in his decision.

The manager regularly stayed in touch with Fernandes and his family, assuring them that he would support the young midfielder both on and off the pitch. Fernandes explained that this personal connection made a significant difference, especially as his parents are not fluent in English. Portuguese teammate Pedro Porro also helped influence the move by encouraging Fernandes to join Spurs and sharing positive details about the club, the squad and its mentality.

Manchester United had identified Fernandes as a priority target but chose not to match Tottenham's £85 million valuation. Reports also suggested the club questioned whether the midfielder truly wanted to move to Old Trafford before shifting focus to alternative midfield options. Despite West Ham's relegation last season, Fernandes impressed with his work rate, ball progression and consistency, making him an ideal fit for De Zerbi's high intensity style at Tottenham.