Fabrizio Romano claims £43m player was convinced working under Antonio Conte at Tottenham would be ‘perfect’, but club blocked move

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Fabrizio Romano claims Ruslan Malinovskyi was convinced that working under Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur would be ‘perfect’ for him, but told Que Golazo that Atalanta blocked the move.

Spurs were linked with a move for Malinovskyi over the summer and Romano previously said the player dreams of playing under Antonio Conte.

Calciomercato recently reported that Atalanta valued the Ukraine international at around £43.4 million over the summer.

And Romano has now suggested that the Italian club’s president blocked a possible loan move to Spurs. But Malinovskyi was desperate to link up with Conte in north London.

Malinovskyi was convinced by working under Conte

Speaking on the Que Golazo YouTube channel, Romano says Antonio Percassi had no intention of allowing Malinovskyi to leave on loan.

“I would mention Malinovskyi from Atalanta because we had some rumours, but it was one of the priorities for Tottenham this summer,” he said.

“He was one of the players they really wanted and the player wanted the move because Malinovskyi was and is still dreaming of Tottenham.

“He’s convinced that working under Conte would be perfect for him so he was really tempted by this possibility and Tottenham wanted to sign him.

“But Atalanta’s president [Antonio] Percassi decided to keep the player. He’s in love with the player so he had no intention to allow any loan deal with a buy option because this was the proposal from Tottenham, with no mandatory option. This is why the deal collapsed.”

Spurs were on the lookout for a possible Bryan Gil replacement this summer, with journalist Alasdair Gold suggesting the Spaniard was desperate to leave.

But a move for Gil didn’t materialise and that is most likely down to the fact Spurs couldn’t secure a replacement like Malinovskyi.

The Atalanta man would have been an ideal fit for Conte’s side, as an attacking midfielder who can operate off the right-hand side, as well as a deeper role in midfield.

Conte’s men are lacking real creativity in the middle of the park and Malinovskyi could have provided this.

The Ukrainian’s contract is set to expire next summer though, so Spurs could be keeping an eye on his situation.