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Premier League star reveals he SIGNED for Tottenham but move was ‘ONE MINUTE’ too late
TOTTENHAM almost signed Joao Moutinho in 2012 - but the midfielder put pen to paper ONE MINUTE past the deadline.
Moutinho joined Wolves in the summer for £5million, fulfilling a career-long desire to play in the Premier League.
The diminutive midfielder is happy with his lot in the Black Country, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side facing a Manchester United at the Molineux later today in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
But if you’d have told Moutinho seven years ago that he’d been playing for Wolves at this moment in time, he may have turned his nose.
Wolves finished bottom of the Premier League in the 2011/12 season, suffering back-to-back relegation from the Championship the next campaign.
I’ve had one or two opportunities in the past [to play in the Premier League]
It was in fact Tottenham - who Wolves beat 3-1 back in December - that Moutinho almost joined in 2012 but for a bit of time mismanagement.
Speaking of his past close-comings to England, the 32-year-old told the Mirror: “It’s been close before. It was my mission to play in the Premier League.
“It’s a league all the people see, they enjoy it and, for me, that’s good because I really enjoy to play.
“I’ve had one or two opportunities in the past. The first was Everton [in 2008], the second one was Spurs.
“I am in the room but the next day I had a game in Portugal, it (Spurs) didn’t happen, it was one minute from happening.
“I had actually signed but it was one minute past the deadline.
“You carry on, you continue to do what you like and what I like to do is to play football.
“I do this and I’m enjoying the Premier League and I enjoy it very much now.
“I feel very good now. I have fresh legs. I tell people who ask me if I’m old, I’m 32 years old, but I feel I can play ten more years and if I can, if I have the opportunity to show, I’m going to show that I can play more.
“It’s good for me to be at an ambitious club which wants to win so that keeps you motivated. That’s my dream.”
Moutinho has been integral to Wolves impressive showing this season, with the side sitting seventh in the table after coming up from the Championship.
The former Porto and Monaco man has bagged one goal - against United at Old Trafford - and seven assists and featured in every league game this season, taking points every one of the top six.