Tottenham Hotspur signed Pierre-Emile Højbjerg from Southampton last month and he was given a five-year deal with Spurs.
The midfielder was expected to leave St Mary’s this summer, after he decided against signing a renewal with the Saints.
Prior to joining the north London club, Everton were credited with an interest in the Denmark international. However, Tottenham were successful in beating competition to bring the former Bayern Munich man to the club.
Højbjerg has revealed a conversation with his compatriot and former Spurs star, Christian Eriksen, convinced him to join Tottenham.
“I called Christian and had a chat. I had some questions that I would have had clarified. And that was really positive. The talk I had with Christian, strengthened my desire and feeling to move to Tottenham,” he was quoted as saying by Ekstra Bladet.
Even though a chat with the current Inter Milan player convinced Højbjerg, it was the regular conversations with José Mourinho that made it easier for him to pick Spurs over other options.
“We have had some really good conversations where Mourinho has told me I have to make the team better and take responsibility,” the ex-Saints captain explained.
“When a manager with such CV and ambitions wants you, it is difficult not to jump on the horse. So, in that way, it was not very complicated in the end to choose Tottenham.”
Højbjerg made his national team debut in 2014 and has been in and out of their starting XI since the start of last year. He remains hopeful a move to Tottenham can help him change the situation with Denmark.
“Time will tell whether the move to Tottenham will help me get a permanent place in the national team. But now I do not think my transfer can be negative in relation to the national team,” he added.
“I train at a higher level with more skilled players, so I am sure that it also going to help me in my development.”
