Paratici gives new Tottenham signing glowing reference
Tottenham’s managing director of football Fabio Paratici has heaped praise on new signing Pape Matar Sarr.
The 18-year-old midfielder arrived from Metz on August 27 for a reported £14.5million.
He has been loaned straight back to the French side for the rest of the season in order to gain more experience.
Is European Super League just good PR away from revival?
Sarr gained admirers across Europe after breaking into Metz’s first team during the 2020/21 campaign.
The Athletic claim that as many as four Premier League sides were chasing his signature last month, in addition to Tottenham. Serie A outfit Atalanta were also involved in the transfer race.
However, Paratici worked quickly to convince the Senegal starlet to join Tottenham, securing a deal not long afterwards.
On the signing, he told Spurs’ official website: “I think Pape is one of the most talented in Europe. Our job is not to look just at tomorrow, but maybe also past tomorrow or next year. This is our job, and I think we made a great signing.
“In all of Europe they speak about this, a lot of teams were interested, a lot of teams were there to sign (him), so we made a very good signing. He needs experience, he needs to play games, to stay in one team and play regularly – a great investment for the club, and a great vision for the future.”
Sarr has been compared with Senegal team-mate Idrissa Gueye in the past, who currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain.
Former England shot-stopper Paul Robinson recently lauded Spurs for landing the teenager.
“I’ve done a bit of research on him,” Robinson said. “He’s been described as the future of Senegal. Idrissa Gueye is meant to have said he’s the best player to come out of Senegal for years.
“That’s really impressive because Gueye has had a lot of nice things said about him during his career.
“Tottenham weren’t the only club interested so they have done really well to get him at the price they have.”
Sarr has already played four times for Metz this season, registering one assist.
Spurs, meanwhile, will play Crystal Palace in the Premier League on September 11, following the end of the international break.