Bayern flop Palhinha shines, raves about Tottenham | OneFootball

Only a supporting actor in Munich – now he’s seizing his chance in England. Joao Palhinha’s Premier League debut at Tottenham is off to a promising start. In the match against Manchester City, he was in the starting eleven for the first time – and immediately made his mark.

The defensive midfielder joined the Spurs this summer on loan from FC Bayern. Under Vincent Kompany, he was rarely needed recently, so he sought a new challenge. Speaking to TNT Sports, Palhinha said about Tottenham coach Thomas Frank: “The coach pushed me to come here, and he showed me the project at Tottenham.”

With his goal to make it 2-0 against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, the Portuguese not only sealed the victory but also justified the trust of his new coach. His goal came after a failed clearance attempt by City keeper James Trafford – Palhinha reacted in a flash and finished with ice-cold precision.

“The club is so great. I’m really happy to be back in the Premier League. Like last time I was here, I’m very happy. Now I want to enjoy this top team and the top atmosphere,” Palhinha continued.

He was already subbed in as a joker in the 3-0 win over Burnley, and he also featured in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain. The match at Manchester City was his first start – and immediately a success.

Palhinha meets an old acquaintance in London

The 30-year-old only moved from FC Fulham to Munich in the summer of 2024 for around 50 million euros. In the past season, he made just 25 competitive appearances for the record champions. Now he has been loaned to the Spurs until 2026, with a purchase option included. According to media reports, this is set at around 25 million euros.

Within just a few weeks, he has earned respect in London – and seems well on his way to taking on a key role at Spurs. In Tottenham, Palhinha not only joins an ambitious team but also reunites with Mathys Tel, who, like him, moved from FC Bayern to London.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.