By now the football world is used to the way Daniel Levy does business. Chief executives and sporting directors aren’t shocked when the Tottenham chairman low-balls them with a derisory opening offer, or tries to shave £5m off the asking price while the paperwork is being printed.
But back in 2002, when Levy was a young pup in the transfer game, his now infamous negotiation tactics were not so begrudgingly accepted, as Spurs found out to their disadvantage during discussions with Real Madrid over of Fernando Morientes in the first summer since ENIC’s takeover.
Levy was looking for a statement signing and he had identified the Spain striker, a Champions League winner and World Cup star, as the man to bring some Klinsmann-esque star power to Glenn Hoddle’s team.
As The Athletic relays, after weeks of back and forth a deal was agreed on deadline day; Morientes was coming to Spurs for £8.9m. A Galactico at White Hart Lane? It would have been too good to be true and so it was, when Levy, at the last minutes, asked for the fee to be paid over 10 years.
Madrid’s sporting director at the time, Jorge Valdano, is said to have hung up the phone immediately and the transfer was dead. I’m sure there are many tales like this from Levy’s tenure, but you never forget your first.
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One of the stupidest and most ignorant sayings ever. I was a fkin naughty little leopard and my spots have changed
And what do the 10% do apart from moan? Nothing proactive. Moan moan moan and bang on about loser poch who won f all honors in 5.5 years. Hindrances that bad mouth my club
And still the clappers will come up with how great he is while 80% of sane supporters look at the honours won under ENIC.
Actually I do people a disservice here it must be 10/90 clappers/dudes
I did find this story very funny. You have to laugh… if only Levy had left the transfer business to someone else who knew what they were doing. I’m sure we’d have won plenty over the last 20 years.
A leopard never changes it’s spots.
I wonder does Levy sell players on the same terms, I very much doubt it. Can’t see him waiting ten years for the Bale money.
Imagine what Real Madrid would have done with £890k per year! They could have gone on to great things. Well, who’s laughing now! Suckers.