Poch: I flattened £42m man Sanchez!

MAURICIO POCHETTINO believes £ 42million signing Davinson Sanchez can become the world’s best centre back — but brought him crashing down to earth in training.

Sanchez, 21, has been working with his new team- mates at Tottenham’s Enfield training base since signing from Ajax, but was given a lesson in the realities of English football by Pochettino when they were competing for a header as part of a drill.

‘We were playing and the ball was in the air and I jump into him — bam! — and he falls, and I come away with the ball,’ Pochettino said yesterday, looking distinctly pleased with himself.

Harsh lessons but only because Pochettino has high hopes for the Colombian. Spurs were wary that richer rivals would outbid them for Sanchez (right) and waited until deep into the transfer window to make a move.

He will compete with Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen for a starting place though Tottenham await a work permit for him to be able to play against Burnley tomorrow. ‘We believe he will be one of the best centre backs in the world in the future,’ said Pochettino. ‘He’s young, but he won the Copa Libertadores with his team in Colombia, played regularly at Ajax, played the Europa League final against Manchester United. ‘He’s young but I like his personality and how he is aggressive. He is fast and will fit for us very well. He loves to play with risk at the back.’

Sanchez left Colombia’s Atletico Nacional to join Ajax last summer and Pochettino said: ‘That is what caught our attention because from the beginning he showed his quality.

‘He was the best player at Ajax in his first season. That showed he has big character and personality, and with a lot of potential.

‘He speaks very good English and from day one I think he is like all the players here,’ he added.