Conte is wrong → Back-up → Re-signing → First pick of England's national team, SON Baragi Spence's life-changing turnaround...Real Transfer Excludes Alexander Arnold Shock
Aug 30, 2025
|
|
|
Spence took over while Trent Alexander Arnold, who moved to Real Madrid, was shockingly excluded from the English national team. Coach Thomas Tuchel revealed the list of 24 players who will play in two consecutive A matches in September on the 29th (Korea time).
Alexander Arnold's call-up failed. Spence was selected for the A team for the first time in history. He is the only player in Tottenham. He settled at Tottenham in July 2022 under Antonio Conte. The transfer fee was 20 million pounds (about 37.5 billion won) including the option.
But it was squeaky from the start. Conte turned away. He classified Spence as out of power, saying it was not a recruit he wanted. He was substituted for only four games in the English Premier League (EPL) in the first season. The playing time was only three minutes based on regular time.
I had no choice but to leave Tottenham. Spence was loaned to Stadren in French Ligue 1 in January 2023. He returned to Tottenham that summer. Coach Enze Postecoglou took the helm, but his fate did not change.
|
|
He was immediately loaned back to Italy's Serie A club Genoa. It only succeeded in rebounding in Serie A. He played in 16 matches, with Genoa in 11th place. The team achieved the best performance among the teams promoted from the top five European leagues.
Genoah wanted Spence to be fully enlisted. However, negotiations over the transfer fee continued for a month, but it broke down. Tottenham set 8.5 million pounds (about 16 billion won) as the lower limit, but Genoa reportedly demanded a lower transfer fee.
Spence made a fresh start for Tottenham. He impressed in the preseason, and Postecoglou concluded that he was second to none as a "back-up fullback". It wasn't a 'backup'. He became the main player, playing both left and right fullbacks in the gaps between Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogi.
|
|
Spence recently chose Son Heung-min along with Harry Kane when asked to name the best player he played with. When Son Heung-min broke up with Tottenham earlier this month, he posted on social media 'True leader, true captain, true legend. The best person I've ever met on the world soccer stage. Thank you for your leadership on and off the field. It was a real honor to share and run the ground with you. Tottenham legend' said a loving goodbye.
The English national team will play Andorra on September 7 and Serbia on September 10 in the European qualifiers for the 2026 North-China World Cup. It is Spence's A debut stage.
Alexander Arnold, who was branded a 'traitor' by Liverpool fans, started the opening game of Spain's Primera Liga in the 2025-2026 season against Osasuna on the 20th. However, he stepped back to the bench after 68 minutes, leaving a question mark.
He started on the bench against Real Oviedo. In the 42nd minute of the second half, when the team was leading 2-0, Daniel Carvajal was replaced and took the ground.
Tuchel stressed that `the competition has begun.'
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.