Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele reportedly issued Genoa a tough rejection after they booked a private jet for him.
The 26-year-old returned to Spurs in the summer following his Serie A title-winning stint at Napoli last season.
Amid the speculation over his future in north London, Ndombele was said to be one of the players named on the transfer list.
He completed a loan move to Turkish giants Galatasaray instead though as other European sides eyed his services for the season. Ex-Spurs teammate Davinson Sanchez joined Galatasaray on a permanent deal.
It’s understood one of those was Serie A outfit Genoa and it seems as though a move was close to completion.
However, Ndombele opted not to make a switch back to Italy at the last second, doing so with a firm message to the club.
La Repubblica, as reported via CalcioNapoli24, say that an representative from Spurs was in the stands for Genoa’s match against Fiorentina.
Genoa were so keen to sign Ndombele that club CEO Andres Blazquez organised a private jet to be sent to London for the player to join ‘as soon as possible’.
However at the last minute, Ndombele is quoted saying: “You are a newly promoted club, I want to make the Champions League.”
Genoa made it back to the Italian top flight after finishing second in Serie B last season.
Galatasary, on the other hand, won the Turkish Super Lig title and secured their spot in the Champions League proper through the qualifying stages.
Ndombele will therefore have the chance to play in the pinnacle of European football for his new side this season and could face former Spurs teammate Harry Kane as Galatsaray are in the same group as Bayern Munich.
He is yet to make an appearance for the club having joined earlier in the month but could make his debut this weekend against Samsunspor.
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