Tottenham star Hugo Lloris texted me to see if Fernando Llorente reports were true because he was excited, reveals Mauricio Pochettino

• e-mail

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has revealed his players were so excited by the signing of striker Fernando Llorente that he received text messages as the deal was sealed. 

Llorente, who chose a deadline-day move to Spurs over Chelsea, arrives with a fine pedigree including spells at Juventus and Athletic Bilbao and a World Cup winner's medal with Spain.

'It's amazing. Hugo Lloris was in the national team and sent a text to me, 'Gaffer, it's true about Llorente?'

Hugo Lloris and new team-mate Fernando Llorente are pictured on the team plane to Liverpool

Llorente is all smiles as he makes his way onto Spurs' training pitch on Thursday

Former Swansea forward Llorente speaks to Dele Alli as they prepare to face Everton

'I said 'Yes, we sign Llorente'.

'He said, 'Wow, fantastic player'. That is the impact that he has on the changing room.

'When you saw him in training, it was like a 16 or 17-year-old going to training with the first team for the first time.

'That energy is fantastic and a very good example for everyone. He is a very good person and at Swansea last season he scored 15 goals. He can repeat the same with us.'

Remarkably, Llorente made his Athletic Bilbao first-team debut up against Pochettino 12 years ago. On January 16, 2005, Pochettino lined up in the Espanyol defence as the teams drew 1-1. 

Pochettino said: 'He told me yesterday [on Friday]! And I said there is only one thing that I remember — you didn't score.'

Llorente's fellow new boy Davinson Sanchez trained with his new team-mates on Friday

Serge Aurier could also make his Tottenham debut after joining from French giants PSG

Llorente (right) made his Athletic Bilbao debut against new manager Mauricio Pochettino (left)