‘Half of Europe wanted him’, ‘great potential’: £70m Tottenham Hotspur-linked ace praised by his peers

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Reported Tottenham Hotspur target Eder Militao received widespread praise last summer by some of his peers, whose comments denote a player of the highest calibre.

According to Spanish outlet El Desmarque, Spurs head coach Jose Mourinho has personally contacted Real Madrid president Florentino Perez about the player’s availability in the case Jan Vertonghen leaves the club in the summer.

The Belgium international is out of contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the end of the season and there have been no developments regarding a breakthrough in talks between player and club.

Militao, meanwhile, joined Real from Porto last summer, the Bernabeu side paying a reported €50million (£43million) for the Brazil international services, according to Goal.

When the 22-year-old made the move to Real, Selecao teammate and Liverpool ace Alisson Becker told Football Espana last year: “He’s a player with great potential.

“It’s no accident that Real Madrid have signed him and it’s no coincidence that played the game (in last season’s Champions League quarter-final second leg) that he has done. I am happy to have his help in the Brazilian team.”

Casemiro, meanwhile, had told AS: “I’ve got to congratulate Real Madrid for signing him because half of Europe wanted him. Militao has earned the right to play at the best club in the world and he’ll be very welcome next season.”

Militao has struggled in his maiden season for Real, however, failing to win Zinedine Zidane over, and has made just 13 appearances all season, with a mere seven starts in La Liga, according to Transfermarkt.

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While Militao may be out of favour at Real Madrid, he is certainly a talented player who has impressed throughout most of his senior career – indeed, Mourinho was said to have monitored the defender while he was at Manchester United (Manchester Evening News).

Militao is confident playing out from the back, is comfortable with the ball, isn’t afraid to dribble forward from defence, rarely makes mistakes, and is superb with passes and deliveries, courtesy of his stints at right-back in Brazil.

However, Militao’s aerial presence has been questioned, and Mourinho could have a tough transfer battle on his hands, given the Real board has reportedly placed a £70million price tag on his head.