Signing Spence was not my idea - Conte
ANTONIO Conte has revealed it wasn’t his decision to sign Djed Spence from Middlesbrough.
Spence finally completed his move to Spurs in a deal that could rise to £20m, the 21-year-old signing a five-year deal with the Premier League side.
But later in the day, when quizzed on signings in a press conference during Tottenham’s pre-season trip to South Korea, boss Conte revealed Spence was identified as a target by club recruitment chiefs rather than himself.
Conte told Football.London: “Spence is an investment of the club. The club wanted to do it. I said okay, this player is young but he showed he can become a good, important player for us. The club decided to buy him.”
Spence faces tough competition for a place in the Tottenham team, with Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal both jostling for the right wing-back spot and Conte also attempting to convert Lucas Moura into that role.
After his Boro exit was sealed, Spence told of how his Tottenham move was a “dream come true”.
He said: “I’m just thankful I’m here and I have this opportunity. Everyone wants to play in the Premier League.
“For a big club, Champions League football and with some of the best players, it’s a privilege to be here.”
With the Spence deal having finally gone through, Boro boss Chris Wilder is now focusing his attention on strengthening his squad.
After Tuesday night’s win at Morecambe, he said: “Now we can move forward.
“It’s been a good pre-season, but I think everyone can see the group and understands, both inside and outside of the football club, that we need to strengthen.”