It was undoubtedly a busy summer for Emerson Royal.
Following a good season with Real Betis, the Brazilian was linked to several clubs, and ended up moving to Barcelona, who had a buying option over him. However, his time at at the Camp Nou didn’t last very long, as he soon joined Tottenham Hotspur in a €25m deal.
Spurs weren’t the only side in North London trying to sign the 22-year-old, as Arsenal’s interest in him was reported several times as well. Now we get to hear the player himself speaking about the complicated situation he went through.
Interviewed by ESPN Brasil, Emerson first explained what happened at Barcelona, insisting he didn’t expect to leave the club so early.
“My departure from Barcelona was kind of… I was taken by surprise,” he told ESPN Brasil.
“Because I had a dream to play for Barcelona. As I’ve always said, I don’t ever deny it. I had the dream of playing for Barcelona and when I’m presented, the board deposits a very big chip on me. They say good things. The president talked about me, he talked about my personal things, that he knew everything about my life, he knew how I played, my characteristics and everything. I was even surprised by this desire that Barcelona had to count on me. Suddenly I was shocked that Barcelona didn’t count on me.
“Only, of course, I made it very clear when I talked to the directors. I said ‘Look, I don’t want to be in a place where I’m not happy and not wanted. I want to go to a place where people want me to be there’.
“And I saw this wish from Tottenham. I even talked to the director, he called me and all. And I saw this club’s desire to have me here. I said ‘I’m going’.
“I got home, my family was at home, I told them ‘I’m leaving’. My family was looking at me like ‘what?’ I said ‘yeah, we’ve been here for 20 days but let’s go. Let’s leave for a new challenge. Let’s turn the key in our head, let’s focus on that and let’s be happy there. Because here, now, right now, we won’t be able to be happy here. Let’s go there because I’m sure we’ll be happy’.
“That’s what we did. We came here, I’m very happy here, I’m very grateful at heart. And wanting to be in my best shape as soon as possible to help my team even more.”
Regarding Arsenal, Emerson said that he’d been in touch with club director Edu Gaspar. But then it was Tottenham who managed to reach an agreement for his signing.
“I actually had a conversation with Edu. I did talk to Edu in the same week. And we talked, he showed me the desire of the club and such. And, of course, I needed Barcelona, I couldn’t settle anything with anyone, Barcelona had to deal club to club.
“And that’s where Barcelona went and found deal with Tottenham. I also got to talk to Tottenham, at first I didn’t have any verbal agreement with anyone. And that’s when Barcelona told me that they had made an agreement with Tottenham. I listened to the proposal, for me it was a good proposal, not only financial, for me that’s what counts least, but it had a very good career project for me. So this is why I chose to come to Tottenham.”
Emerson’s move to Tottenham has given him positive results already, as after four appearances for the club, he was called up by Brazil for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Arsenal will hope they don’t regret missing out on this one too much.
