Tottenham reap transfer rewards as Daniel Levy exploits loophole as details revealed in ‘fine print’
Daniel Levy has been “very, very clever” in working around Fabio Paratici’s ban to take advice on Tottenham transfers, says Paul Robinson.
Ange Postecoglou confirmed what the Evening Standard called on 31 January the “worst-kept secret” that the Italian was still working for Spurs, despite having resigned as managing director in April last year in the wake of his 30-month worldwide ban.
Elements of that ban, relating to the false accounting scandal at Juventus [ESPN, 21 April], were reduced after his resignation [The Athletic, 28 April], and he has since been “excellent” for Tottenham in Robinson’s view despite not holding his previous role.
The former England keeper pointed to the likes of Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario as examples of Paratici’s work, having brought in ex-Juve pair Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevsky, and if there is a “loophole” in Levy listening to a “friend” then it has definitely benefited Spurs.
Robinson exclusively told Tottenham News: “I think his ban is in certain areas. If you read the fine print it’s to stop him doing certain things within the game. It’s not a complete football ban I don’t think.
“There’s nothing to stop Daniel Levy from having friends and taking advice from friends, so in that way, he’s been very, very clever if indeed that is the case, which we’re led to believe.
“Listen, Paratici’s been excellent for Tottenham. You look at the recruitment this season alone, at Vicario, at Ven de Ven, they’ve been two absolutely brilliant signings who, let’s be honest, not many of us knew too much about before they came into the Premier League.
“Last season, Bentancur and Kulusevksy, incredible finds at Juventus not playing week in and week out.
“His recruitment and the way that the squad’s been moulded with Ange this season as the new manager it’s only sensible that Daniel Levy should use him, or lend and ear if you like.
“There’s obviously ways around, there’s loopholes to get around his ban, and what he’s actually, specifically banned from doing, but I think you have to read the fine print like I say.
“But again there’s nothing stopping people in this world having friends and listening to their advice.”
Fabio Paratici ‘excellent’ for Tottenham after Juventus ban
Since consultancy advice is permitted under the reduced terms of his ban then there is nothing improper about what the club have done and it has clearly paid off.
Plenty of the regular first XI have Paratici’s fingerprints on their transfers to the club, so Levy deserves praise for turning to the long-time Serie A man in the first place.
The fallout from the scandal in Turin was a major hurdle for the relationship to clear but it appears to have done so with flying colours and has no-doubt added to the league-leading business practices at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In other Tottenham news, the manager has been tipped for an important role as the club seek to sign a “world class” attacker.
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