Mateus Fernandes has swapped West Ham for Tottenham in an £85m club-record deal, snubbing Manchester United in the process, but a warning from the past echoes loud – Paul Gascoigne, who made the same choice 38 years ago, says it remains his greatest regret.
The 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder completed his move to north London after Spurs agreed a guaranteed £85m fee without add-ons, beating United who were unwilling to match the upfront sum. Fernandes has made 72 Premier League starts over the past two seasons but saw both Southampton and West Ham relegated to the Championship. He has one cap for Portugal but is not part of their World Cup squad.
“Tottenham signed Mateus Fernandes for a club-record £85m, beating Manchester United, but Paul Gascoigne's regret over choosing Spurs may serve as a warning.”
Tottenham head coach Roberto de Zerbi praised the signing: "I've admired Mateus for a long time because he combines quality on the ball with the intensity and intelligence that are so important in the way we want to play." Fernandes said the manager was key: "When we spoke, it was very special. We look at football in the same way – going onto the pitch as a strong team, with fight and energy, to try to win every game."
The move echoes a famous U-turn from 1988, when Paul Gascoigne was set to sign for Manchester United from Newcastle but changed his mind after Tottenham offered a lucrative financial package – including a £120,000 bonus for his father. Gascoigne later called it his biggest footballing regret. On The Rest is Football podcast, he recalled: "Sir Alex Ferguson called us and said, 'I want to sign you' … I told my dad, 'I'm going to Old Trafford' and he said, 'Brilliant'. Then two days later the phone went and it was Irving Scholar." After Scholar promised the bonus, his father urged him to sign for Spurs. Gascoigne admitted that, given the chance, he would have done things differently to achieve success under Ferguson.
Fernandes' decision raised eyebrows given that Manchester United secured Champions League qualification last season while Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League. Reports indicate he, like Gascoigne, opted for the superior financial package.
Fernandes becomes Tottenham's fifth signing of the summer window, following goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and defenders Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke. The club have also agreed a £100m fee for Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali after an earlier bid was rejected.