Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

News

HomeNewsTransfersEnglish Premier LeagueTottenham Hotspur

‘Extraordinary’ £56m star’s decision to rebuff Tottenham’s summer approach vindicated with dream run

Tom Avery

Wed 13 April 2022 19:45, UK

Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres w🍃ho rebuffed summer ꦦinterest from Tottenham Hotspur has helped the Spanish side reach the Champions League semi-finals.

The 25-year-old was part of the Yellow Submarine team that knocked out German giants 2-1 on aggregate to set up a potential last-four clash with Liverpo♊ol.

Following a Robert Lewandowski strike, it looked like last n💃ight’s second leg at the Allianz Arena was ♏heading for extra time.

But Samuel Chukwueze had other ideas and his 88th-minute goal stunned the Bavari▨ans and sent Unai Emery’s side through.

Torres has been ever present during Villarreal’s European campaign and he even got on the scoresheet in the 3-0 win agai♏nst Juventus in Turin, in the last-16 second leg.

Villarreal’s homegrown centre-halve was the subject of hea𒐪vy interest from Spurs, but he wanted to play in the Champions League club with his beloved El Madrigal side.

The run to the last-four has mꦗore than justified Torres’ decision to stay loyal.

“I was informed of Tottenham’s interest,” Spain international Torres told  back in September. “But I was clear from the first moment what I wanted, and s༺o I decided calm𓃲ly.

, only for Torres to turn down the offer.

Villarreal’s number four said: “I decided th✨at the best thing for me was to continue at Villarreal. We have m𒅌any challenges this season that I am passionate about. It didn’t take long for me to decide.

“This is only the fourth time Villarreal (have) rea꧟ched the Champions League, which shows how hard it is (to quality). It was a dream to play the comp🦋etition with my lifelong club.”

Torres is undeniably one of the most-coveted central🅘 defenders across Europe and interest in the left-foote𝓀r is likely to be reignited this summer.

“(Torres) is something extraordinary,” beams Jose B🌃enlloch, the proud mayor of Villa🐷rreal ().

He’s had yet another impressive campaign and will be watching keenly to sꦆee how he fares s⛄hould he come up against Liverpool in the semi-finals.