標籤: cult

liverpool Favorite Dirk Kuyt has admitted he could have joined Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Anfield.

Speaking on the Rondje Robb podcast, the Feyenoord legend explained why he rejected Spurs at the last minute. He chose loyalty over a Premier League switch.

“I could go to Spurs”

The former Netherlands striker has revealed he turned down Tottenham a year before moving to the Premier League with Liverpool.

He joined the Reds in August 2006 for €18m. He made 285 appearances at Anfield, scoring 75 goals and 40 assists and winning the League Cup during his time in the Reds.

During his time on Merseyside he firmly established himself as a fan favourite. But things could have been very different had Tottenham made the call a year earlier.

Kuyt confirmed that Tottenham, under chairman Daniel Levy, applied serious pressure to sign him in the final hours of the window. But the forward refused to walk away from Feyenoord.

“I could have gone to Spurs on the last day, but I didn’t want to do that with Feyenoord.” In 1908 he was reported as saying.

He then expanded on that conversation with Levi. “I told him at the time: ‘I don’t want to do this with Feyenoord on the last day of the transfer window.’

“At that point, you find yourself wondering: ‘Will that opportunity ever come again?’ But a year later, Liverpool came calling.

Atletico Madrid sent a private jet

Tottenham were not the only side trying to lure Dirk Kuyt away from Feyenoord. He revealed that Atletico Madrid had also come very close to securing his signature.

“The president of Atlético Madrid sent a private jet to Rotterdam. He intended to take us to Madrid,” he said.

“My agent told me: ‘You have to understand: If we get on that plane, we’re not coming back.’ I thought it was really amazing that we ultimately decided not to do it.”

no regrets

Luckily for the former striker, it appears he has no regrets. He remained loyal to Feyenoord. A year later he received a big fee from Liverpool. He then became a cult icon at Anfield.

Yet he found a storybook ending at Feyenoord. He made a comeback towards the end of his career and captured the title by scoring a hat-trick in his final game. This was his first time in 18 years.

None of this would have been possible had he accepted Tottenham’s offer so many years ago, something he clearly knows.

Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar is nearing contract expiration with Sao Paulo FC after reportedly waiving a large sum of money due under his deal.

according to globo esporteThe 34-year-old has given up approximately R$53m. This is equivalent to approximately €9.8m (£8.4m) based on current exchange rates. However, he is still demanding a payout of more than R$7m – around €1.3m (£1.1m).

The amount owed relates to unpaid image rights and a signing bonus, known as a “glove” in Brazil. Initially, Oscar wanted the full amount paid. Now he has agreed to receive it in installments till the end of 2027.

financial picture breakdown

The situation is clear from Oscar’s camp. He believes he can legally demand the full value of his contract, which runs until December 2027 and is worth a total of around R$53m (€9.8m / £8.4m).

Instead, the former Chelsea cult icon is only demanding a share commensurate with the period before he suffered a medical incident in November last year. In other words, he is not studying the remaining years completely.

Sao Paulo does not verify the figures. The club considers the contract “suspended” through the end of 2025. Negotiations between executive director Rui Costa and agent Giuliano Bertolucci have been described as progressing well. The club also reportedly owes commission payments to middlemen.

informed about health conditions

As we covered at the time, Oscar collapsed during pre-season tests at the training ground in São Paulo. He was taken to hospital and diagnosed with vasovagal syncope – a temporary loss of consciousness caused by a drop in blood pressure and heart rate.

Doctors indicated that there is no risk of death in this condition. However, this requires monitoring. Oscar followed recovery protocols and briefly returned to the training center, but he finally opted for retirement.

For Chelsea supporters, this is a serious development. Oscar is best remembered for his role at Stamford Bridge during the 2012–13 season, which included their Champions League-winning season.

Now the focus is on next week’s meeting. If the parties agree a €1.3m (£1.1m) settlement structure, their Sao Paulo chapter will formally close – and with it, what many in west London still consider to be the final contract of a player considered a cult favourite.