The father and agent of Tottenham defender Emerson Royal has stated that his son is ready to ‘take a bigger leap’ and is likely to seek a transfer this summer. Emerson joined Spurs from Barcelona in 2021 but has had a mixed career in north London, often struggling defensively and providing little in the way of an attacking threat. Antonio Conte then spent £40million on Pedro Porro to rectify the problem, though Emerson enjoyed his best form for Spurs just after the Spaniard was signed.
Now, Emerson Zulu, the defender’s father and agent, believes that his son has outgrown Tottenham and should seek a move to a European giant such as Real Madrid. He said on the Charla podcast: ‘There is a great possibility that Emerson Royal will leave Tottenham. We want this because we believe it’s time for him to take a bigger leap and go to a team that fights for titles. It can be in the Premier League or outside of it, but it has to be a giant. I think that Real Madrid is the football that best fits with the style of Royal.’
Interim head coach Cristian Stellini was full of praise for Emerson prior to his injury, saying: ‘If he continues to play like this, I think it’s compulsory for Brazil to recall him. I hope for him that that can happen.’ Stellini also explained why Emerson took so long to settle at Tottenham, saying: ‘We have different cultures in Europe and South America. Emerson needed time to understand the difference in the culture of football. But at the same time, he has to be himself. He has to show who he is. Sometimes this type of player loses confidence if he doesn’t feel love around him. We don’t have to stop to give him this, but let him understand the difference in the type of football. When his pace and his intensity is really high, he can enjoy. When he thinks too much, he’s not the same player. So we have to follow this aspect, to feel Emerson every time being involved in the game.’