Mateus Fernandes has revealed that personal conversations with manager Roberto De Zerbi and teammate Pedro Porro were the decisive factors in his decision to join Tottenham Hotspur from West Ham United, snubbing interest from Manchester United. The 22-year-old Portuguese midfielder completed a club-record £85 million move to Spurs last month, despite having suffered relegation from the Premier League in consecutive seasons with Southampton and West Ham.
De Zerbi's daily calls won Fernandes over
Speaking to The Athletic, Fernandes explained that De Zerbi's persistent communication, including daily phone calls, and his promise to act as a "second dad" in England, were crucial. "The desire of playing for a big club, winning games, to fight for the Premier League, for the title," Fernandes said. "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 emphasized the emotional connection, noting that his parents do not speak English fluently. "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."
Porro's persuasive call
Fernandes also credited his former Sporting Lisbon teammate Pedro Porro, now a Tottenham defender, for playing a key role in the transfer. Recalling an exchange with the Spain World Cup winner, 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."
Immediate impact and cautious start
Fernandes made an immediate impression, scoring on his debut in a 1-0 pre-season friendly win over MK Dons. He also featured in a 2-0 victory against Auckland. However, he was left out of the squad for the friendly against Sydney and missed Saturday's 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea. De Zerbi confirmed the cautious approach: "Mateus Fernandes can be available right now to play but we don't want to take any risks with him."
Spurs' rebuild and Premier League ambitions
Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League last season, narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day, thanks in part to De Zerbi's positive impact. Fernandes is one of several new signings, including Sandro Tonali, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Andy Robertson. Spurs have two more pre-season friendlies against Getafe and Hoffenheim before their Premier League opener against Brentford on August 22.
