Tottenham midfielder Mateus Fernandes completed an £85 million transfer from West Ham, choosing Spurs over Manchester United after persistent personal contact from manager Roberto De Zerbi, according to an interview with The Athletic published in August 2026. The 22-year-old committed to a club-record move after suffering Premier League relegation with both Southampton and West Ham last season.
Roberto De Zerbi’s Phone Calls Secured the Deal
According to Mateus Fernandes, manager Roberto De Zerbi played a decisive role in convincing him to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Fernandes stated that De Zerbi called him and his family every day during the recruitment process. Because Fernandes’s parents do not speak fluent English, the relationship relied heavily on trust and personal connection, with De Zerbi promising to act as a second father in England. Fernandes told The Athletic that his desire to play for a big club, win matches, and fight for the Premier League title heavily influenced his choice.
Pedro Porro and the Sporting CP Connection
A phone call from former Sporting CP teammate Pedro Porro further convinced Fernandes to join Tottenham, according to reporting from Football.London. Fernandes missed Porro’s initial call because he was sleeping, but the Spain international later reached out in Portuguese to urge him to sign, telling him that he had personally asked the manager to bring him to the club. Fernandes described Porro as one of the best right-backs in the world and praised the team’s mindset and player group.
Transfer Interest and Club Context
Before finalizing the £85 million switch in early July 2026, Fernandes attracted interest from several major European clubs, including Arsenal, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United, according to BBC reports. While Manchester United viewed the midfielder as a primary target, the club declined to match Tottenham’s valuation following discussions with agent Jorge Mendes, harboring doubts about whether the player was fully committed to joining Old Trafford.
Upon his arrival, De Zerbi praised Fernandes for his quality, intensity, and tactical intelligence. Despite his youth and back-to-back relegation campaigns with Southampton and West Ham, Fernandes maintained a reputation as one of the league’s most industrious midfielders, recognized for high ground-coverage metrics and composure under pressure.
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