Spurs fail to get Bartra

As expected, Marc Bartra has not joined Tottenham. It seemed pretty obvious that he would want first team football in a Champions League club and not as backup to Toby Alderweireld.

Spurs fail to get Bartra

There was a false story circulating that he would sign again for Barcelona and be loaned out to Fiorentina which was totally unrealistic as Fiorentina do not have Champions League football. While some fans are stuck in the past and believe money is the driving factor in player decisions, it is in fact Champions League football that drive the majority to make a decision.

It is the shop window, if you want a move to a bigger club use a smaller Champions League club as a stepping stone, if you can't do that you use a guaranteed Europa League team, if you can't do that you use one that has made the play=off round. That is easier to achieve by going abroad that it is to sign for a Premier league club as it is harder to achieve in a second season over here in a competitive league.

Understandably, Marc Bartra has gone to Borussia Dortmund, the second best side in Germany where he will be a guaranteed starter and is virtually guaranteed to qualify for the Champions League each season with the possibility of picking up trophies too.

Mats Hummels has left Borussia Dortmund for Bayern Munich and Marc Bartra is his replacement.