Transfer Centre

Andre Villas-Boas: 'I turned down offers to leave Tottenham Hotspur'

By Liam Power, Reporter | 16 August 2013

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas reveals that he turned down multiple offers to leave White Hart Lane earlier this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has revealed that he rejected multiple offers to leave White Hart Lane earlier this summer.

Villas-Boas was linked with the vacant posts at Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid at various points during the close-season, but committed his future to Spurs.

The Portuguese coach believes that Spurs are primed to improve and build a side capable of earning Champions League qualification, citing the addition of Franco Baldini as technical director as a crucial acquisition.

He told Sky Sports News: "[I turned the offers down] because this is my first opportunity to start a second year in the same club. I think that can give me an advantage and it is something I want to try.

"I have been very welcomed, I have an excellent group of players, and the conditions and structures we have at Tottenham are fantastic and the arrival of Franco takes us to another level so these are things I had to measure.

"I have great respect for the club and for [chairman] Daniel Levy and these are the reasons the couple of clubs that came knocking I told them that I wasn't interested."

Spurs have broken their transfer record twice during pre-season, taking their summer spending past £50m as Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capoue joined Paulinho and Roberto Soldado in North London.

Villas-Boas's second season in charge begins on Sunday when Spurs meet newly-promoted Crystal Palace in a London derby at Selhurst Park.