Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes to secure Johnny Caldosau this summer have been hit by a major obstacle as the American midfielder reveals he is in a hurry to leave Spain.
The Spurs will have the opportunity to bring Cardoso to North London after securing a £21 million purchase option as part of a “winning” deal in which Giovani Law Celso returned to the real Betis last year.
There was hope that Tottenham would activate the clause in the upcoming transfer window, but Cardoso’s latest comments suggest that he is not interested in the move.
Recent reports claim that Real Betis is preparing Spurs to trigger a purchase option, but the end result is not just the club involved.
Cardoso himself has to agree to a transfer, and his recent remarks about his future suggest that he envisions a long-term future in Seville.
Tottenham set-off: Johnny Caldosau is happy with the real Betis
The midfielder has expressed his commitment to Betis, stating his enjoyment at the club and his desire to stay there for many years.
These sentiments strongly suggest that he is unlikely to consider a move into the Premier League.
Cardoso said (via) elchiringuitotv):
“I’m so happy here and hopefully I’ll have fun at Betis for years to come.”
Since his international arrival in December 2023, Cardoso has quickly become a key figure in Manuel Pellegrini’s midfield.
He made his debut in the famous LaLiga clash with Barcelona in January 2024, then solidified his place with his team. Recognizing his impact, Betis moved swiftly to bring him into a long-term contract, extending his deal until 2030.
Tottenham had identified Cardoso as the main target for the midfield revamp ahead of his next campaign, hoping to integrate him into the Anjipost Ecoglu team.
His contributions have helped the club embark on a five-game winning streak, competing for them for a Champions League spot. So far, he has featured in 34 games, scored three goals and provided one assist in all competitions.
Tottenham wanted to introduce Cardoso as part of a midfield rebuild next season, but persuading him to leave Spain now seems like a big challenge.