Did Belgian teammates convince Batshuayi to join Tottenham?

If Michy Batshuayi winds up signing with Tottenham, credit the Spurs’ Belgian contingent

The English press has been lit ablaze with rumors that Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi has snubbed West Ham in favor of Tottenham. If this signing does come off, you can bet that the striker’s Belgian teammates who already play for Spurs played a key role.

Squawka.com reports that the talented Belgian forward has already turned down a contract offer from West Ham of 80,000 pounds per week because his heart is set on moving to Tottenham. The only reasonable explanation for him turning down such a lucrative offer from the Hammers, is that Tottenham’s Belgian stars have been in his ear during the past few weeks.

On paper, it makes complete sense for Batshuayi to accept West Ham’s offer. They may not be quite as prestigious a side as Tottenham, and they lack Champions League football next season, but he’d be their clear starter heading into next year. In sharp contrast, Batshuayi could only hope to force his way into the Spurs’ starting 11 as a complement to Harry Kane.

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It’s also highly unlikely that Daniel Levy and Mauricio Pochettino are going to offer him a contract equal to that of what West Ham has put forward. 80,000 pounds per week would put him among the highest earners at Tottenham and would likely cause quite a few Spurs players to seek significant raises. Levy, in particular, will definitely want to avoid that sort of roster unrest.

Tottenham’s biggest advantage in this transfer chase, aside from the ability to offer Batshuayi Champions League football, is that the striker has spent the past several weeks around several Spurs stars. I believe it’s a very solid bet that the likes of Mousa Dembele, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen have been ending the youngster’s ear about the virtues of Pochettino’s Spurs project.

It’s easy for us as football fans to become jaded and believe that all football players care about is money and fame. We forget that our football heroes are real people too who value things other than cash. In particular, Batshuayi might favor a move to Tottenham because he’d find the transition more comfortable because he has friends and countrymen already present at White Hart Lane.

That’s a reality that would give me a lot of comfort if I were 22-years-old and contemplating a move to a new football league in a different country. I dare say it would have been a huge factor for most of you reading this piece when you were that age.

Michy Batshuayi is far from a lock to end up at Tottenham next season, but if he does arrive at White Hart Lane, it’s pretty clear where a large share of the credit will go. The Spurs’ Belgian contingent will deserve tons of praise for a successful recruitment of the prolific striker.