James Maddison has now spoken openly about whether Tottenham was always his chosen destination before he left Leicester City.
Tottenham Hotspur have been undergoing a period of transition in recent years, with several established stars moving on for various reasons.
The most successful era for the club in recent times was during the Mauricio Pochettino years, when Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Mousa Dembele, and Heung-min Son led Spurs to compete at the highest level both domestically and in Europe.
However, as it is in football, eras come and go, and Tottenham’s golden spell has passed with the club now rebuilding.
James Maddison opens up on choosing Tottenham after Leicester City
To replace some of their most influential figures, Spurs looked within the Premier League and secured one of the standout creative profiles at the time in James Maddison.
The former Leicester City midfielder was one of the division’s top creators before relegation forced the Foxes into a sale, and Spurs moved in for him.
Maddison was asked if it was always Tottenham for him when he left Leicester, and speaking to Sky Sports, he admitted that, despite interest elsewhere, he had always felt drawn to North London.
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He said: “Yeah. It was, yeah. There was talk, and there was a few conversations with other clubs and stuff.
“I always just felt and I am not just saying this, I always felt like I was going to be a Tottenham player, and there is genuine meaning beyond that.
“I am not just saying that because I am at Tottenham now and I am trying to get the fans to love me or whatever. I used to play against Spurs, and I felt like when Eriksen left, there was kind of a little gap for a player like myself.
“Especially when Harry Kane was there and Sonny. I saw myself and envisioned that kind of thing. When I got the call, it was one that I did not want to turn down. I could not really entertain anything else, really, because I could picture myself in the white shirt at the stadium.”
James Maddison impact at Spurs since joining
Maddison cost Tottenham £40m to bring him to North London, and the 29-year-old has lived up to expectations, helping Spurs secure Europa League success last season, adding to his FA Cup win during his time at Leicester City.
The playmaker never had the chance to play alongside Kane in a Tottenham shirt as the England captain left in the same window, yet Maddison’s output has remained strong regardless.
The midfielder has returned 16 goals and 21 assists in 75 appearances, proving his importance to the rebuild.