"?Monaco's Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho has revealed that he came within minutes of signing for Tottenham back in August 2012.
According to reports from "?Sky Sports, the former Porto man was in London on transfer deadline day in 2012 to complete the move. It was cancelled after the paperwork for the deal wasn't submitted by the deadline and Moutinho went on to sign for Monaco a year later. Moutinho faces up to Spurs in the Champions League tonight.
He said ahead of the game: "It's true I was a few minutes from signing for Spurs. Here I am at Monaco and the focus is on putting in a performance to help us through to the next stage of the Champions League."
Looking ahead to his side's trip to Wembley to face Spurs on Wednesday, Moutinho believes Monaco can improve on their performance from last year's 4-1 defeat in the Europa League at White Hart Lane and find motivation from the 80,000 plus expected fans.
The French side have made an excellent start to the season in Ligue 1, with 3 wins and a draw from their first 4 games, including a 3-1 win at home to champions PSG.
MOUTINHO: "Spurs might be slight favourites but this is a very equal group." #COYS pic.twitter.com/6nD1rJsgUi
"Each team has developed since then," he added. "It's a different competition, a bigger competition, with different players.
"Spurs might be slight favourites but this is a very equal group. Every team will fancy their chances to qualify and everyone wants to get through. Every player in our team will have played in similar situations, in front of big crowds. As players it's something we love.
"Most of the fans will be against us, we know that, and they will be for Spurs but this is only extra motivation. We love that pressure and we know if we play 100 per cent with can come away with a positive result. Why not a victory?"