Player confirms he agreed personal terms with Spurs before deal collapsed
Saido Berahino has confirmed that he came extremely close to completing a switch to Tottenham in 2015 before the deal ultimately collapsed.
The Berahino to Spurs story dominated the headlines for much of the summer of 2015 but the deal ultimately fell through towards the end of the transfer window (The Telegraph).
At the time, the England Under-21 international was seen as one of the best young talents in the country, with many even talking about him in the same breath as Harry Kane (BeSoccer).
However, after the move to North London collapsed, he never quite managed to replicate the same form. He had a three-year spell at Stoke City, where he struggled to get minutes under his belt before moving to Belgian side Zulte Waregem in 2019.
The 30-year-old then had a brief spell in League One side Sheffield Wednesday during the 2020-21 season and now plays for AEL Limassol in Cyprus.
Berahino looks back on that failed move to Spurs
The striker, who captains the Burundi national team, has now opened up on his failed move to Spurs, admitting that he even visited Hotspur Way before the move collapsed.
He said (via On The Judy Podcast) “Before we even get to them bidding, I did the whole thing – behind the scenes thing – visiting the training ground, I did everything. Personal deal was sorted. All that was left was the clubs to agree a number.”
In hindsight, Spurs may look at the failed Berahino transfer as a bullet dodged but who is to say that he might have not evolved into a top player under the guidance of Pochettino if he had made the move? The 30-year-old’s story is yet another example of how small details can often make or break players’ careers at the top level.
