Tottenham Star Turned Down Barcelona Due To Loyalty To Real Madrid, Journalist Says

KEY POINTS

Spanish journalist Eduardo Inda claims Sergio Reguilon passed up an offer from Barcelona
Reguilon said he was "more of a Madridista than Santiago Bernabeu," according to Inda
Reguilon joined Tottenham in the summer alongside fellow Madrid star Gareth Bale

Former Real Madrid star Sergio Reguilon turned down an offer from Barcelona when the club came knocking on his door this summer, according to Spanish journalist and former Marca director Eduardo Inda.

Reguilon’s move to Tottenham Hotspur was one of the most talked-about transfer deals in the latter part of the window. However, during a recent appearance on the Spanish TV program “El Chiringuito de Jugones,” Inda said that Blaugrana also showed interest in the Spain defender before he inked the Spurs deal.

According to the Okdiario director, Reguilon's agent, Kia Joorabchian, presented him with an offer from Barca around the same time negotiations for Philippe Coutinho’s future at Camp Nou was being worked out.

"Reguilon shares a representative with (Philippe) Coutinho, and when he was negotiating the return of the Brazilian, he found out they were in Barcelona looking for cover for Jordi Alba and they asked him about Reguilon," Inda said, adding that Joorabchian then informed Reguilon of Barca's interest.

However, Reguilon was quick to turn it down because of his loyalty to Real Madrid.

"How am I going to go to Barca if I'm more of a Madridista than Santiago Bernabeu?" Inda quoted Reguilon as saying.

Lionel Messi said he will stay at Barcelona but only because the club's president Josep Maria Bartomeu broke his word to let him leave AFP / GABRIEL BOUYS

In September, Reguilon joined Spurs from Real Madrid alongside Gareth Bale after signing a five-year deal. The defender joined the Premier League club for an undisclosed fee but with a reported £27.5 million ($35 million) buyback clause.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho once witnessed Reguilon’s notable passion to rival Barcelona. Aside from his impressive loan spell at Sevilla last season, the Spanish left-back caught the attention of Mourinho due to his intense performances in back-to-back El Clasico matches in 2019.

“I say, from my perspective too, one of the players that could show that Real Madrid traditional desire to compete against Barcelona was another kid like [Segio] Reguilon, who had a very good approach in both matches,” Mourinho said last year.

Reguilon is now part of Mourinho’s first-team squad. He made his Tottenham debut in the club’s EFL Cup victory over Chelsea on Sept. 30 where he provided an assist for Eric Lamela in the 84th minute, 69 touches, two shots and three completed dribbles.