Prized Tottenham Hotspur recruit James Maddison has revealed exactly what new club manager Ange Postecoglou said to him that convinced him to make the move to the Spurs.
Maddison ranks amongst the most talented midfielders in the English Premier League and featured in the Three Lions’ World Cup side in 2022.
The 26-year-old had starred for Leicester City since joining the club in 2018, but after the side was relegated following the 2022/23 season, Maddison became highly sought after.
READ MORE: ‘Shut up’: Pietersen mauled over Ashes TV tirade
READ MORE: TV camera controversy after astonishing golf feat
READ MORE: Van Gisbergen plots career move to rock Supercars
Having picked up only one trophy this millennium, Maddison said it was Postecoglou’s belief in the Spurs that convinced him to seal his £40 million ($76 million AUD) transfer.
“I feel a hunger about the place,” he told the club’s official website.
“You come here, and you get a feel for the club and the people, everything about it, and it feels brilliant. As I said, I’m very happy and can’t wait to get going.”
Maddison confessed that a chat with Postecoglou ultimately persuaded him to take a chance on the Spurs, with one particular pledge leaving a lasting impact.
“I spoke to the manager, spoke to [the chairman] Daniel [Levy] and they both spoke very highly of everything about the club.
Ange to Spurs a ‘perfect’ fit
“Speaking to the manager was very important, how he’s going to be, with that little bit of the unknown, so to have a decent chat with him and to get his thoughts on things, how he sees Spurs going this season … He said one thing to me on the call, I hope he won’t mind me saying this, but he said, ‘Whether you come or not, you’re going to see a completely different Spurs team under me’, and that kind of stuck with me that he said that.
“Things like that are so important, building a good relationship with him, with Daniel, speaking to other players, obviously, I know a lot of them anyway, and playing against them for so many years, I feel like I have such a good understanding with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and now I’m part of it, and I have this lovely white shirt on, I’m ready to go.”
Postecoglou was appointed Tottenham Hotspur’s manager earlier this month, with the with the 57-year-old signing a four-year deal to become the first Australian to ever manage an EPL club.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here
