Gus Poyet's comments on Malcom's Barcelona struggles prove he should've joined Tottenham

By Sam Leveridge

In January, Spanish newspaper Sport claimed that Tottenham were in talks over a potential loan move for Barcelona forward Malcom, and it seems that such a move would have been best for him based on comments from Gus Poyet.

The ex-Spurs midfielder managed him at Bordeaux before he moved to La Liga, but the forward has made just one league start since and has only once surpassed half an hour of game time in the competition.

“He’s spectacular. I know him well. He was the best player in the team. That helps because he’s one of those players that, when he feels important, can make the difference,” Poyet explained to Esports Cope.

“He could play on the right of a 4-3-3 but with Messi it’s complicated. When he’s good and is given minutes, he has a lot of quality. But it isn’t the same as being the star player in a team to having a different role. That requires a period of adaptation.”

Bordeaux’ s player Malcom thanks is coach Poyet Dominguez (R) during the French L1 football match Bordeaux vs Toulouse on May 12, 2018 at the Matmut Stadium in Bordeaux southwestern. – Malcom scored his last goal for Bordeaux before his departure next season. (Photo by MEHDI FEDOUACH / AFP) (Photo credit should read MEHDI FEDOUACH/AFP/Getty Images)

Such comments prove that the Frenchman may have been best served moving to north London, where he would surely have been given the starring role as Harry Kane was out absent until last weekend against Burnley.

Opportunities like that will not come around frequently, but Mauricio Pochettino is clearly a fan and sets up in a system that would appear to suit Malcom well based on Poyet’s comments.

Should Spurs go back in for Malcom in the summer, it could be an exciting option to provide a higher quality alternative to the England captain.