Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League • England

‘Great possibility’ £26m Tottenham star leaves, with stunning Real Madrid move touted for player who’s outgrown Spurs

Tottenham stars Son Heung-min and Emerson Royal

The agent of a Tottenham player believes it’s time his client takes a “bigger leap” this summer amid talk of a stunning move to Real Madrid.

It’s been yet another rollercoaster year for Spurs, with another manager sacked mid-season and the trophy drought guaranteed to continue.

The 6-1 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday saw Tottenham’s campaign sink to a new low. Among the most bizarre decisions across the entire league this term is surely Cristian Stellini’s decision to change formation ahead of a season-defining clash.

Tottenham ditched the back five they’re utilised for around two years in favour of a more traditional back four. However, two wing-backs in the form of Pedro Porro and Ivan Perisic were selected at full-back.

The futures of many of Spurs’ wing-backs will come under the microscope this summer, especially if the next permanent manager adopts a back four. Multiple sources have tipped Perisic to return to former club Inter Milan at season’s end, for example.

Another whose position could come under threat is Emerson Royal. The Brazilian – a roughly £26m signing from Barcelona back in 2021 – has struggled to meet expectations in north London.

Royal has performed better since the World Cup break, though it was a very low bar to begin with. In any case, according to the player’s father – who doubles up as his agent – Royal could make Tottenham’s mind up for them anyway.

“Time for [Emerson Royal] to take a bigger leap”

Speaking on the Charla Podcast, Royal’s father, Emerson Zulu, insisted there’s a “great possibility” his son “will leave Tottenham”.

He then declared it’s time for Royal to “take a bigger leap” to a club who’ll “fight for titles”. Zulu then floated the idea of his son joining Real Madrid in what would unquestionably be a shock signing.

“There is a great possibility that Emerson will leave Tottenham,” said Emerson’s father.

“We believe it’s time for him to take a bigger leap and to go to a team that fights for titles. I think he fits a giant like Real Madrid.”

If the sentiments of Royal’s father are shared by his son, it sounds like the right wing-back feels like he’s outgrown Tottenham.

That’ll be met with bemusement by large swathes of Spurs’ fanbase given Royal has in no way been a success in north London.

Regardless, with Porro not going anywhere and Djed Spence due to return from his loan spell at Rennes next season, a Royal sale might not be the worst thing in the world for Spurs.

Real Madrid are known to be in the market for a replacement for the ageing Dani Carvajal this summer. Even so, a Real move for Royal who bitter rivals Barcelona couldn’t believe Tottenham paid £26m to sign looks highly ambitious on the player’s part.

READ MORE: Tottenham star could ‘definitely’ leave for Man Utd as two sides are ruled out of chase