Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has revealed Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla almost joined the Lilywhites in 2010.
Cazorla, 30, instead joined the Gunners for £15m from Malaga in 2012 and has developed into an integral player for Arsene Wenger’s side.
However, it was Spurs that first tried to lure the Spain international to the Premier League, according to their former boss.
“Santi Cazorla was very nearly a Tottenham player well before he joined Arsenal in 2012,” Redknapp told the London Evening Standard.
“He was fantastic against us for Villarreal in a pre-season friendly in July 2010. I went up to Everton to watch him play a week later and then we spoke to Villarreal.
“Santi wanted to come. He was happy to join Spurs but there were breakdown in talks over the fee. The deal was almost done but it got lost somewhere in the negotiations between Tottenham and Villarreal.
“It was a transfer that could and should have been done. He ended up being another one who got away.”
Cazorla, instead, has gone on to play more than 150 times for Arsenal in all competitions. In fact, only Eden Hazard (284) and David Silva (296) have completed more key passes in the Premier League than Cazorla (269).
For more stats on Santi Cazorla, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
