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Tottenham-linked Geoffrey Kondogbia was once dubbed better than Mourinho’s old rebel Paul Pogba
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in a deal to sign Geoffrey Kondogbia from Valencia. the Spanish side could be willing to sell Kondogbia for a fee in the region of €30 million (£26m) should they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Jose Mourinho is said to be keen on Kondogbia, who would add some steel to what has become an increasingly flimsy-looking midfield.
In Kondogbia, Tottenham would be signing a player with immense ability, but who has been plagued by injury trouble.
Indeed, his former Valencia boss Marcelino once rated Kondogbia better than Mourinho’s former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.
In 2018, the Valencia boss could not understand why Pogba was in the French national team whilst Kondogbia continued to be overlooked,
“He is a key player for us, he is important for how we play and although I don’t follow how the other French midfielders are getting on, recently I don’t think that some of them would be close to how Kondogbia is playing.
“We saw Pogba play against Sevilla and Kondogbia against the same opponent and there isn’t any kind of comparison to be made.
“As always, however, I have total respect for the national team managers and as Valencia boss I am happy that he is here with us.”
Indeed, Kondogbia’s frustrations with Les Bleus eventually saw him switch allegiances and begin playing international football for the Central African Republic.
Around the same time, Mourinho was ‘barely on speaking terms’ with Pogba after a tumultuous relationship between the pair during the Portuguese manager’s time in charge at Old Trafford,
Mourinho was starting to prefer youngster Scott Mctominay over Pogba, whose disparate displays had the Manchester United boss fuming.
At the same time, Kondogbia was thriving at Valencia and not receiving the notice he deserved over Pogba internationally.
Mourinho could undoubtedly use that as inspiration when trying to convince Kondogbia into a Tottenham move. The Portuguese could help Kondogbia prove himself against his former French youth international.