Fabio Paratici is going to find it incredibly tough in his career to top the deal that saw Tottenham sign Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus on the final day of the January transfer window. A proven winner in the game after winning trophy after trophy for the Bianconeri. Despite his tender years, the 25-year-old also has bags of experience at the top level for both club and country.
He was just the player Tottenham needed in January to help kickstart their season as they looked to make a late dash for Champions League football. Quite how the Lilywhites managed to sign him for £15.8million remains to be seen, not that Paratici, Antonio Conte and his Spurs team are complaining about it.
The deal really could end up being one of the club's best-ever pieces of transfer business. The aforementioned fee, which is payable within three financial years, could increase up to £5m if specific 'performance objectives' are met during his time with Spurs.
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Even if the overall fee does become £20.8m in the long run, it is still a sensational coup for the club, given what he brings to the team. What makes the deal even more baffling from a Juventus perspective is their current struggles on the field.
Needing a major revamp in order to get back on track, Bentancur, as well as fellow Spurs man Dejan Kulusevski, could be a key part of helping the Turin-based club rebuild and compete at the top again. However, they are now going to have to look elsewhere to solve their major issues.
Playing a pivotal role in helping Tottenham seal a Champions League berth last campaign, Bentancur once again helped Spurs when it came to Europe's premier competition. On the verge of crashing out of Champions League Group D after an abysmal first-half display in Marseille, Tottenham came out a different side all together, with Bentancur grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and helping them get over the line.
The Uruguayan was in sensational form as the visitors managed to turn the game on its head and secure a 2-1 victory after trailing 1-0 at the break. Offering nothing in the first half other than a Harry Kane shot that was tipped over in the seventh minute of additional time, it was like a different team had turned up at the restart.
Played in down the right by Emerson Royal, Bentancur put in an excellent ball across the face of goal minutes after the whistle that saw former Spurs shot-stopper Pau Lopez get a crucial touch to deny Kane a simple finish. Getting on the ball and moving the team forward as they pushed for an equaliser, the ex-Boca Juniors man again showed his quality after winning possession down Spurs' left flank and moving on with it.
He did overhit a simple pass to Lucas, which would have sent the Brazilian free, yet Spurs did manage to work it, and it resulted in Kane missing a golden opportunity after getting his legs in a tangle after Lopez had fumbled Emerson's low cross. It all came from Bentancur winning possession in his own half.
Pivotal to Spurs seizing control after their first-half struggles, it did end up having an impact on the player as he went to ground feeling his hamstring. Managing to carry on for a little while before Oliver Skipp was introduced in his place, Bentancur was hailed for his performance and singled out for his role in Tottenham's transformation.
"Bentancur has absolutely run himself ragged this second-half," said Glenn Hoddle when commentating on BT Sport's coverage of the game. "He's chased everything. He's pressed everything, he's been good on the ball. He's the one really, the talisman that's turned this performance from Tottenham around."
Looking like he could move no more after giving everything on the pitch, the TV cameras did pick up on what the January signing did after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg broke to net a late winner in the last seconds of stoppage time. With Hojbjerg, Kane and Emerson racing over to the far corner of the pitch to celebrate the goal in front of the Tottenham fans. Bentancur, despite his injury and substitution, ran over 50 yards to join in with the celebrations.
The goal meant that much to the team as they sealed their place in the Champions League knockout round and also topped Group D in the process. Fresh from his heroics against Sporting CP and Bournemouth over the last week with crucial late goals, Bentancur delivered another midfield masterclass when it mattered most.
He really is some player. £15.8million!
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