Swedish youngster Dejan Kulusevski has earned a heap of praise by Tottenham Hotspur coach Antonio Conte for making an impressive start to his Premier League life. The 21-year-old winger has made 12 appearances for Spurs since moving in the winter transfer window, registering 5 assists and 2 goals already.
The 21-year-old was a January deadline day arrival from Juventus and has hit the ground running as he notched a fifth assist during the 5-1 rout of Newcastle
✍️ @jonathandveal83https://t.co/sBOBQx5tjb
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Coach Conte, who led Inter for two years between 2019 and 2021, has revealed that he tried signing the budding youngster when he was with Atalanta, before he moved to Juventus in the 2020 January window.
“When I was coaching Inter I tried to catch him, but Juventus moved earlier. Maybe they had more money than us. As a player who is only 21-22 years old, Kulusevski has to keep playing like that, he’s strong physically and he’s good technically,” said Conte (via TUTTOmercatoweb).
The former Nerazzurri tactician is confident that Spurs can sign the Swede on a permanent transfer at the end of the season when his half-season loan deal expires.
Dejan Kulusevski has now provided more Premier League assists (5) than any other player since making his Spurs debut in February.
Been such a good signing from Conte! ? pic.twitter.com/6AFXlml3nf
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) April 3, 2022
He also proceeded to mention another Juventus signing he believes is a ‘great signing’.
Conte said: “I think for Tottenham he is a great signing for the present and for the future, let’s talk about a really strong one. Dejan as well as Rodrigo Bentancur. I have always said that with these two signings, despite the loss of four players in January, we have made the team more complete and balanced.”
Antonio Conte has relied on Dejan Kulusevski since his arrival in North London.
Now his country are relying on him to spearhead Sweden's new golden generation to the World Cup ??
— GOAL News (@GoalNews) March 29, 2022
The North London giants have the option to sign Kulusevski for a transfer fee of €30m in the summer. Given his place in the first team under Conte, one cannot foresee why he cannot be the future of Spurs’ attack.