Sofyan Amrabat was heavily linked with a move to Tottenham last January as Antonio Conte looked to strengthen his midfield. A player the head coach and Fabio Paratici knew well from their time in Italy, the Moroccan international instead remained with Fiorentina as a transfer away didn't come to fruition with no agreement with Spurs in place.
Tottenham instead completed a deal for Juventus' Rodrigo Bentancur on deadline day, with the Uruguay ace since becoming a major hit in the Spurs team and contributing with some key moments to help the club in terms of their Premier League and Champions League aspirations. Amrabat still remains with Fiorentina but it may not be long before he is on the move from the Florence-based club after starring for his country at the World Cup.
Playing a pivotal role in helping the Atlas Lions top Group F ahead of Belgium and Croatia, the player's brother, ex-Watford man Nordin Amrabat, is confident that top clubs in Europe will now be looking at the 26-year-old. Also confirming that the central midfielder held talks with Tottenham at the turn of the year, the AEK Athens winger believes that many will be queueing up to take him away from Fiorentina.
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"I am really incredibly proud of Sofyan," he told De Telegraaf (via Sport Witness ). "When you play so well on such a stage – in three matches against countries like Croatia, Belgium and Canada – you have a lot going for you.
"I think the top clubs in Europe who have been sleeping have now woken up. In January, Sofyan himself was already in talks with Tottenham Hotspur, but there was no agreement on the transfer fee with Fiorentina. I think the interested parties will now line up."
Morocco's prize for topping Group F is a Round of 16 showdown with Spain at Education City Stadium, with the match taking place at 3pm on Tuesday afternoon.
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