Barcelona has Lionel Messi (Neymar and Luis Suarez too). Real Madrid has Cristiano Ronaldo (that Gareth Bale guy is pretty good too). However, the next Messi or Ronaldo will be playing in the English Premier League, instead of La Liga, says Tottenham Hotspur Manager Mauricio Pochettino.
“These types of players do not come around every day or every year,” Pochettino told Marca. “Real Madrid and Barcelona already have Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and no one will take them away.”
The Argentine believes that the increase in revenue from television contracts will further financially strengthen the league’s club and this they’ll attract the most elite players possible.
“But with the economic power now that some English clubs have, the next superstar will play in England.”
“Personalities and characters are good for the Premier League. The focus is on England because the best coaches or those who have won the most are here. It’s a further motivation for me, I’m still learning and every weekend is a challenge.”
In the past, Pochettino has compared Tottenham Hotspur’s 17-year-old forward Marcus Edwards to Messi, but I really don’t think that’s where he’s going with the points that he’s making. The 44-yea-old Argentine is more alluding to how the BPL together broke the transfer spending record this summer, with the 20 clubs combining to spend over a billion British pounds.
This massive sum was led by Manchester United bringing Paul Pogba back, to the tune of £89.3 million, a new world record. It’s the first time that United have broken the world record in a transfer acquisition, and that competitiveness in spending, not just for United but the league as a whole, is reflected in the competitiveness on the pitch. These teams are ultra-competitive on the field of play, and in the front office.
Flashing back to March 3rd, Pochettino said this: ‘The Premier League is the most competitive league in the world, and you can see that every week.”
“For different reasons, it’s open and competitive and not easy to play every week. We are near the top and have come through a very busy period, playing Europa League, FA Cup and now Premier League. Always it’s tough. But it’s not about complaining. No excuses.”
Tottenham were the last remaining challenger to Leicester City in the race for the Premier League title. Spurs were the last club mathematically eliminated from the title race last season, and eventually finished third in the table.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.