Now, speaking to Rising Ballers, Saido Berahino has opened up on his failed move to Spurs.
Indeed, the former West Brom striker says he almost joined Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino, but Daniel Levy ruined the deal.
Saido Berahino on failed Tottenham move
Berahino spoke about almost joining Spurs and how Daniel Levy ruined the move by trying to pay £1m up front as a part of a £20m deal.
“West Brom didn’t want to sell me. Tottenham was another step so I just wanted to progress,” Berahino said.
“I think anyone in my shoes would’ve wanted to move on. It was a good club, a big club. No disrespect to West Brom. Pochettino promised and he said a lot of nice things to me. I felt like if I went there I would definitely progress, but it didn’t happen.
“West Brom, the chairman at the time wasn’t vocal, just straight business. West Brom’s chairman and Daniel Levy are the worst people to do business because they do business their way.
“I found out that it’s because the deal on the table was really bad. Tottenham wanted to sign me for £20m, but £1m up front and the rest in instalments, and then they couldn’t replace me, so the chairman said ‘no way’.”
Tottenham got lucky
Cast your mind back 10 years and you’ll remember that Berahino was one of the hottest young properties in English football.
Berahino was banging in the goals for West Brom, and he looked like a potential star.
However, that form very quickly subsided, and he would ultimately end up playing League One football before the age of 30.
Spurs got lucky here, because a £20m deal for Berahino wouldn’t have been money well spent considering how the striker’s career panned out.
Instead, Spurs put more and more faith in Harry Kane, and it’s fair to say that worked out for the best.
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