Generation Foot academy president Mady Toure has revealed that Barcelona tried to snap up Pape Matar Sarr for a cut-price fee prior to the midfielder’s move to Metz.
Sarr has already made quite an impression in his first full season at Tottenham even though his opportunities have been limited on many occasions.
The youngster has demonstrated maturity beyond his years when he has been given the nod to start, including in his Champions League debut at the San Siro against AC Milan last month.
Many Spurs fans are understandably excited about what the future holds for Sarr and the youngster could still have an important role to play over the next couple of months, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma out for the rest of the campaign.
The 20-year-old caught the eye during his outing against AC Milan, putting in an accomplished display alongside Oliver Skipp despite the pair being relatively inexperienced in such a high profile game.
Sarr first made his name at Generation Foot back in Senegal before getting his move to Europe, and it has now emerged that Barca were keen on snapping up him.
The Senegalese club’s president told TFM (via Wiw Sport): “When (Barcelona) contacted us for Pape Matar Sarr, there was an offer of 5 billion francs (around £5 million). But I did not look at this sum. I refused.
“I said to myself that the development of the player must be respected. He eventually went to FC Metz. You have to have a roadmap for your young people, who have to do it step by step. It is important.”
(Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
Spurs Web Opinion
Sarr evidently has a very high ceiling and needs to be playing regularly over the next year or two to fulfil his potential.
I hope that Tottenham loan out the youngster (preferably to a Premier League club) in the summer rather than keeping him around as a squad player.
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