Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen’s agent has revealed that his new team, Benfica, were not his first-choice after leaving Spurs recently.
Vertonghen’s contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium expired once the season ended and he moved on after eight years in North London.
The 33-year-old had taken his time to find a new club, before choosing to sign a three-year deal with Portuguese giants Benfica.
The aforementioned three-year deal actually proved to be the turning point for the Belgian defender, according to his agent, Tom De Mul.
He also revealed that his client was close to joining Italian side Napoli, with other clubs from Serie A also keen on Vertonghen.
De Mul told Sporza, as per the Daily Mail: “Benfica were not his first-choice at the start of this process.
“There were other clubs interested, but Benfica worked well to show Jan that he was a priority.
“They offered stability and consistency, especially with a three-year contract, which is fundamental for a player at this stage of his career.
“There had also been contact with Italian clubs like Roma, Inter and above all Napoli, which at a certain point really were going somewhere.
“However, the three-year deal was very important for Jan, along with the opportunity to win trophies and play in the Champions League, or at least the Europa League.”
