Stefano Okaka says he has no ill feelings towards Anderlecht for blocking his move to Tottenham Hotspur,in what would have been a career changing moment.
The Italian has been a without a club since Serie C side Ravenna released him at the end of last season.
Earlier in his career, he had an opportunity to join Tottenham, while the striker was at Anderlecht.
Okaka is a product of AS Roma’s academy and couldn’t cement a place with their first team. The Serie A side sent him on loan regularly between 2007 and 2012, and apart from a temporary spell at Fulham, the rest were with the Italian clubs.
When Tottenham showed interest
The Jupiler Pro League side signed the frontman from Sampdoria for €3m in 2015. He starred in his debut season, scoring 17 goals and contributing four assists from 49 games.
This includes a goal in the 2-1 Europa League win over Tottenham Hotspur in October 2015. Mauricio Pochettino was then in charge at the north London club, and Stefano Okaka had impressed him by scoring the winner.
A decade later, and La Dernière Heure have now published an interview with the player. Before reviewing his career, the free agent makes it clear that he’s still looking for a club.
“I want to play for another year. I’m still training. I can still find a club until October 15th, so we’ll see. Yes, I’ve already had some contact, but nothing is finalised yet. No, not with Belgian clubs (laughs),” he said.
Tottenham dream shattered
In October 2022, he talked about his failure to secure a move to a top Premier League side.
The 37-year-old left Anderlecht for Watford in 2016. When asked to describe his final weeks at the Belgian club, he talked about the failed Spurs move.
“Nobody knows, but it was frankly quite difficult. A Chinese club (Jiangsu Suning) wanted to buy me and offered €20m, I think,” Stefano Okaka explained.
“But… I didn’t want to go. I was young and I had a dream: to go to Tottenham. Spurs wanted me in January. I said no, I didn’t want to go to China. Anderlecht pushed me, and the following season I was dropped from the squad. While I had scored almost 20 goals the year before. I trained alone until I signed for Watford on the last day of the transfer window.”
When asked whether Tottenham Hotspur returned for him, he added: “No, they wanted me in January. Mauricio Pochettino was still there. We played Spurs in the Europa League in October and then again in November.”
“And I scored in the first match. Anderlecht didn’t want me to go, but pushed me towards China in June. It was sad to be left out of preseason.”
“After a season like that, an Anderlecht player usually goes to Tottenham, Everton… To a big club! Whether in London or elsewhere. But I don’t hold it against Anderlecht at all; they’re an incredible club.”
Okaka spent three years at Watford and left them for Udinese in 2019. During his time at Vicarage Road, he managed five goals and an assist from 39 matches.
The sliding doors moment was arguably career defining.
