Mauricio Pochettino says he took Davinson Sanchez down in training as he adds Tottenham's new signing can become the world's best centre back

  • Tottenham signed central defender Davinson Sanchez for £42million 
  • Mauricio Pochettino believes Sanchez can become a world-class player 
  • Pochettino also admitted that he took Sanchez out in training this past week 
  • Spurs are awaiting a work permit for Sanchez ahead of the game with Burnley 

Mauricio Pochettino believes £42million signing Davinson Sanchez can become the best centre-back in the world — but brought him crashing down to earth during his first week of training. 

The 21-year-old has been working with his new team-mates at Tottenham's Enfield training base since the move from Ajax, but was given a harsh lesson in the realities of English football by his own manager when they were competing to win a header as part of a drill.

'We were playing [in the] box and he was inside and the ball was in the air and [I jump into him] — bam! — and he falls, and [I come away] with the ball!' Pochettino said on Friday, looking distinctly pleased with himself.

Mauricio Pochettino watches on during Tottenham's U23 game against Manchester United

Mauricio Pochettino watches on during Tottenham's U23 game against Manchester United

Harsh lessons but only because Pochettino has such high hopes for the Colombian. Tottenham were wary that richer rivals would outbid them for the player and waited until deeper into the transfer window to make their move. 


He will compete with Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen for a starting place and they are awaiting a work permit for him to be able to play against Burnley on Sunday.

'We believe he will be one of the best centre-backs in the world in the future,' the Spurs manager said. 

Davinson Sanchez signed for Tottenham for £42million from Atletico Nacional

Davinson Sanchez signed for Tottenham for £42million from Atletico Nacional

'That is why we made the effort to try to sign him. He's young, but he won the Copa Libertadores with his team in Colombia. And played regularly at Ajax, played the [Europa League] final against Manchester United. 

'I think he's young but with amazing history and background. I like his personality and how he is aggressive, he is fast. He will fit for us very well. He loves to play with risk at his back.' 

Pochettino can identify part of himself in Sanchez: a defender who left South America for Europe in his early twenties. 

Pochettino, who moved from Argentina to play for Espanyol in Spain at 22, experienced first-hand the anxieties involved with moving to a different culture and attempting to make it as a footballer. 

Pochettino moved from Argentina to play for Espanyol in Spain at the age of 22

Pochettino moved from Argentina to play for Espanyol in Spain at the age of 22

Sanchez, comparatively, moved to Ajax from Colombian club side Atletico Nacional last summer.

'That is what caught our attention with him, because when he arrived at Ajax from the beginning he showed his quality, started to show his character and personality, I think he was the best player at Ajax in his first season. That showed that he is a player with big character and personality, and with a lot of potential.

'He speaks very well English, and from day one when he arrived I think he is like all the players here. He is very welcome with his team-mates and he is one of us.

'He wanted to move and to play for Tottenham. Davinson is with us because a lot of clubs were interested in him but he decided to join us.'