Kulusevski changed his stance on Conte ahead of Tottenham move

Dejan Kulusevski has claimed that one of the reasons he joined Tottenham Hotspur was to play under Antonio Conte, but two years ago, he snubbed a move to Inter because of the coach’s tactics.

The Sweden international has completed an initial 18-month loan move to North London with an option to buy.

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Spurs will pay €10m for his loan until 2023 and have an option to buy for €35m.

“I am looking forward to playing with the coach. I’ve known him from Inter, he is a winner and that’s what I wanna be,” the former Juve winger told Tottenham’s official website.

“It’s also part of why I came here. I am going to listen to him, he knows what he is talking about and his teams always work really hard and that’s what I love.”

Kulusevski admits Conte played a key role in his move to Tottenham

Kulusevski had joined Juventus in 2020, completing a €44m move from Atalanta.

Inter were also interested in signing him at that time, but the Swede snubbed a move to San Siro because he was not convinced about Conte’s tactics.

Kulusevski underwent his medical with the Old Lady in January 2020 and remained on loan at Parma until the end of the season before moving to Turin.

“Sarri [Juventus coach at that time] was very nice. I knew his Chelsea side and that was one of the reasons why I joined Juventus,” Kulusevski told La Gazzetta dello Sport in May 2020.

“With Conte, some movements are different and the same goes for the tactical system. That was my main doubt.”

Conte mainly used a 3-5-2 line-up at Inter but has slightly changed that in North London, going for a 3-4-3 formation where Kulusevski can fit more easily. That’s why the winger may have changed his stance on the Italian tactician and eventually decided to join him in North London.