Mateus Fernandes has explained why he turned down Manchester United to join Tottenham, with daily calls from Roberto De Zerbi and a direct appeal from teammate Pedro Porro influencing his decision.

The Portuguese midfielder revealed the details as Spurs prepared for their next Premier League fixture against Everton on Saturday. They were held to a 0-0 draw as they remain winless and without a goal in their first four games.

Why Mateus Fernandes Chose Roberto De Zerbi's Personal Approach Over Manchester United

Fernandes said De Zerbi's approach involved regular, direct contact instead of one sales pitch. The Tottenham head coach called him every day during the negotiations and also spoke to Fernandes' family.

Fernandes said his parents do not speak fluent English, so the repeated conversations helped build trust despite the language barrier. De Zerbi also told Fernandes he would look after him personally after he moved to England.

"The way he spoke with me and my family was very important for me," Fernandes said. "He said he would take care of me, that he would be my second dad in England."

Fernandes has since described his decision as being "more about feelings" than financial terms, despite Tottenham's £85 million fee making him the club's record signing.

Manchester United had identified Fernandes as a priority target earlier in the window but did not match Tottenham's valuation. BBC reporting indicated that United had doubts about whether Fernandes wanted to move to Old Trafford.

And the club later turned its attention to alternative midfield targets, including Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.

United's decision not to match Tottenham's bid, combined with De Zerbi's regular contact with Fernandes, meant the club could not revive the move once the midfielder decided to join Spurs.

How Pedro Porro's Phone Call Helped Convince Fernandes To Join Tottenham

Pedro Porro also played a role in Fernandes' decision to join Tottenham. The two players were teammates at Sporting CP in Lisbon before Porro moved to Tottenham in 2023, giving him first-hand knowledge of Fernandes and the club he was encouraging him to join.

Porro called Fernandes directly during the negotiations, but Fernandes was asleep when the call came through. He only heard Porro's message after waking up and finding a message in Portuguese.

"Come on, Mateus, you need to play with us; we want you," Porro told him, according to Fernandes. "It was I who told the manager to bring you."

Porro's message gave Fernandes further encouragement to join Tottenham, with their previous time together at Sporting adding to his influence. Fernandes later described Porro as "one of the best right-backs in the world."

What Fernandes' Comments Mean For Tottenham's Slow Start To The Season

The slow start has put pressure on De Zerbi and his new squad, including Fernandes. Asked about the team's form, Fernandes continued to back the decision that brought him to the club.

"This is one of the reasons that I came here, to play for winning something," Fernandes said. "We want to win the games, we want to fight for the titles, and with this squad it's normal that we want to fight for the titles."

Fernandes acknowledged that Tottenham's results have not yet matched those ambitions. "Now we didn't win the last three games, so things need to calm. We need to take time," he said. He compared Tottenham's search for a first win to a familiar image: "It's like ketchup — when you win one game, it's going to be more easy."

De Zerbi's pitch to Fernandes will now be judged against Tottenham's results. The manager convinced him to join as part of a team aiming to compete for trophies, but Tottenham have taken just one point from their opening three league games.

Fernandes has continued to back those ambitions despite the slow start, saying Tottenham needs time to find their form. His comments show that he remains confident in the project that convinced him to choose Spurs.