^ ^ Mateus Fernandes reveals the key reason he snubbed Man Utd to join Tottenham

Mateus Fernandes joined Tottenham from West Ham (Picture: Shutterstock)

Mateus Fernandes has revealed the key reason he snubbed Manchester United to join Tottenham from West Ham.

Spurs signed the Portuguese midfielder from London rivals West Ham last month for a club-record fee of £85m.

Fernandes was relegated from the Premier League with Southampton before suffering the same fate last season with West Ham.

Despite that, the 22-year-old attracted interest from a number of clubs earlier in the summer, with Michael Carrick reportedly keen to bring him to Old Trafford.

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But Fernandes chose to join Tottenham and says conversations with Roberto De Zerbi and Pedro Porro proved crucial to his decision.

Asked why he decided to sign for Spurs, Fernandes told The Athletic: ‘The desire of playing for a big club, winning games, to fight for the Premier League, for the title,

‘The way he [De Zerbi] spoke with me and my family was very important for me. He was calling me every day, so I’m very happy to work with him, and hopefully we can do great things.

Fernandes in action for new club Spurs (Picture: Getty)

‘It was more about (forming a) connection, because my dad and my mum don’t speak English very well. It was more about feelings.

‘He said he would take care of me, that he would be my second dad in England. I’m very happy to work with him.’

Fernandes was also in touch with Tottenham defender Porro, who he played with while the pair were both at Sporting Lisbon.

Roberto De Zerbi helped convinced Fernandes to join (Picture: Reuters)

Recalling an exchange with Spain World Cup winner Porro, Fernandes said: ‘He called me one day — I didn’t answer because I was sleeping — he said, in Portuguese, “Come on Mateus, you need to play with us, we want you. It was me that told the manager to bring you.”

‘Then when everything was done, I spoke with him a bit about the club, the mentality in the team, the team-mates as well.

‘He’s an important player. He’s one of the best right-backs in the world. He’s a top guy.’

What a hit, Mateus Fernandes 💥

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Fernandes scored on his Tottenham debut, a 1-0 pre-season friendly win over MK Dons, before featuring in their 2-0 victory over Auckland last week.

Spurs’ club-record signing was left out of the second tour friendly against Sydney before also missing Saturday’s 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea.

‘Mateus Fernandes can be available right now to play but we don’t want to take any risks with him,’ De Zerbi confirmed.

Tottenham have two more pre-season friendlies – against Getafe and Hoffenheim – before their Premier League opener against Brentford on August 22.

Spurs finished just 17th in the Premier League last season, only surviving relegation on the final day after De Zerbi’s positive impact at the expense of Fernandes’ former club West Ham.

Fernandes is just one of several new faces at Tottenham alongside the likes of Sandro Tonali, Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson.

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^ ^ Kai Havertz gives verdict on £34m Arsenal signing after Mikel Arteta claim

Kai Havertz after Arsenal’s pre-season win over Girona (Picture: Arsenal FC)

Kai Havertz has delivered his verdict on new Arsenal signing Christos Tzolis after the Gunners’ pre-season friendly win over Girona.

Mikel Arteta’s side beat Girona 4-1 in their first game since the Champions League final back in May.

Havertz, Max Dowman, Gabriel Jesus and summer signing Tzolis were all on target as Arsenal proved too strong for Spanish side Girona.

The pre-season friendly gave Arsenal fans their first glimpse at Tzolis following his £34m move from Club Brugge.

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Arteta targeted the Greece international after Leandro Trossard left the Emirates Stadium to join Turkish side Besiktas.

Asked for his first impressions of Tzolis, Arsenal title winner Havertz told the club’s official website: ‘Amazing. I think you saw his quality from the first minute.

‘I mean, I saw it already a couple of years ago when I saw him playing in Germany. He’s a top guy and a top player, we’re all very glad to have him here.’

Arsenal summer signing Christos Tzolis (Picture: Getty)

Discussing Arsenal’s pre-season friendly more generally, Havertz added: ‘I think it was a good win. You saw already the connections we had on the pitch.

‘It was a good test for us against a good team and I think we played strong. We need to continue like that now.

‘Now is a new season, new standards and we need to do more to achieve our goals again.

Mikel Arteta praised his £34m signing (Picture: Getty)

‘Of course, we had a good year last year but we want more trophies to make the fans happy and that’s what we’re here for.’

Arteta was also asked about Tzolis’ impact after Arsenal’s first of four pre-season friendlies and said fans would ‘love’ the 24-year-old.

‘I’m very pleased with him,’ said Arteta. ‘First of all, the way he has adapted to the club, to the team.

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‘The connection he’s already generated with the boys. I think you’re going to love the player. He’s a very direct player.

‘He’s got the ball between the eyes. I think really good at linking up. He has a lot of similarities with Leo [Trossard] in a lot of the things that he can do and the spaces he can occupy.

‘And then the work ethic that he has. He’s a boy that comes with so much hunger as well and wants to prove it. It’s a dream for him and we are here to help him.’

Arsenal have three more pre-season friendlies – against Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund and Como – before facing Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Arteta’s side then begin their Premier League title defence with a home match against newly-promoted Coventry City on August 21.

Asked about the difference going into the new season as champions, Arteta said: ‘I think we have even more responsibility and more ambition than before.

‘We know what is ahead. We know the qualities and the capacity that we have to compete with any other team. We need to prove that we belong at this level.’

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^ ^ Chelsea open talks to sign £42m Tottenham target after Danny Welbeck transfer

New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso (Picture: Reuters)

Chelsea have opened talks to sign Italy defender Giorgio Scalvini after completing a deal for Danny Welbeck.

The Blues confirmed the signing of former England international Welbeck from Brighton on Saturday.

Welbeck, who played for Manchester United and Arsenal before Brighton, has signed a two-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

The 35-year-old becomes Chelsea’s fourth signing of the summer following Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace and Marco Palestra from Atalanta.

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Big-spending Chelsea are not even nearly finished in the transfer window, however, and intend to secure several more summer deals for new boss Xabi Alonso.

According to The Sun, Stamford Bridge chiefs have immediately turned their attention to Atalanta and Italy defender Scalvini.

The 22-year-old has made over 100 appearances for boyhood club Atalanta, helping the Serie A side win the Europa League in 2024.

Giorgio Scalvini in a friendly for Atalanta (Picture: Shutterstock)

Scalvini’s form has attracted interest from a number of European clubs and it is claimed Chelsea have directly approached his representatives to discuss a deal.

But the Blues face competition from London rivals Tottenham and fellow Premier League side Newcastle United, who are also interested in Scalvini.

Spurs have expressed interest as Argentina international Cristian Romero is set to leave north London and join Inter Milan in a deal worth £34m.

Atalanta, aware of the interest in their player, reportedly want at least £42mto sign the Italian centre-back.

New Chelsea signing Danny Welbeck (Picture: Getty)

Scalvini is believed to be keen on a move to the Premier League as he believes it is the right time to make the next step in his career.

The arrival of Lacroix from Palace means Chelsea have TEN central defenders on the books, but Alonso is ready to sell at least five of those.

Trevoh Chalobah is closing in on a move to Cesc Fabregas’ Como, Axel Disasi has been linked with a move to Italy and Benoit Badiashile has accepted his Chelsea career is over.

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Chelsea’s newest signing Welbeck scored a career-best 13 goals in the Premier League last season and says he has ‘fire in my belly’ to perform in west London.

‘When you hear of interest from Chelsea, it is something that fills you with such immense pride,’ Welbeck said after moving to Stamford Bridge.

‘Knowing the history of Chelsea, it is a club that wants to win trophies and is pushing to do that every single season.

‘I’m really honoured to come to a club of this stature at what feels like a really exciting time. I know a few of the boys already, and I’ve had fantastic conversations with the manager, so I already feel that connection.

‘I’ve got that fire in my belly. I’m ready to give everything for this club to make everyone at Chelsea, and the supporters, proud.’

Chelsea finished just 10th in the Premier League last season, failing to qualify for any European competition.

Alonso has three more friendlies to prepare for the new season, with Chelsea facing Juventus, AC Milan and Johor Darul Ta’zim before their Premier League opener.

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