MONACO star Joao Moutinho admits he was just ‘minutes’ away from signing for Tottenham in a £24million deal four years ago.
The Euro 2016-winning Portugal midfielder will line up for the French side when they face Spurs in the Champions League on Wednesday.
But Moutinho could have been starting for the north Londoners instead after coming extremely close to joining from Porto in 2012.
The 30-year-old jetted into London on transfer deadline day to get a move over the line, but the relevant paperwork was not sent off in time and the deal collapsed.
Spurs then tried to sign him again in 2013, but Moutinho instead opted for the glitz and glamour of moneybags Monaco.
And the playmaker insists he has no regrets about his failed move to White Hart Lane, telling reporters: “It’s true, I was a few minutes from signing for Spurs.
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“Here I am at Monaco and the focus is on putting in a performance to help us through to the next stage of the Champions League.
“Spurs might be slight favourites but this is a very equal group (with CSKA Moscow and Bayer Leverkusen).
“Every team will fancy their chances to qualify and everyone wants to get through.”
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