James Maddison reveals how Ange Postecoglou convinced him to join Tottenham

James Maddison has lifted the lid on a phone call with Ange Postecoglou that convinced him to join Tottenham from Leicester City.

Maddison, 26, completed his £45million move from the east Midlands to the north London club on Thursday, becoming Postecoglou’s third signing since the Australian left Celtic for Spurs this summer.

Postecoglou, 57, is plotting a major rebuild at Spurs after the club finished in eighth last season, although he has a big job ahead of him with Harry Kane’s future in doubt, while their rivals are also strengthening.

But Maddison – who had courted interest from Champions League side Newcastle – didn’t need too much convincing to be a part of Postecoglou’s project, and revealed how a conversation with the Australian persuaded him to move to London.  

‘I feel a hunger about the place,’ he said in his first interview with the club. ‘You come here, and you get a feel for the club and the people, everything about it, and it feels brilliant. Like I said, I’m very happy and can’t wait to get going.

James Maddison has revealed how Ange Postecoglou convinced him to join Spurs

The Englishman moved to the north London club in a £45million move this week

‘I spoke to the manager, spoke to Daniel and they both spoke very highly of everything about the club and of me. Speaking to the manager was very important, how he’s going to be, with that little bit of the unknown, so to have a decent chat with him and to get his thoughts on things, how he sees Spurs going this season..

‘He said one thing to me on the call, I hope he won’t mind me saying this, but he said, ‘whether you come or not, you’re going to see a completely different Spurs team under me’, and that kind of stuck with me that he said that. I thought ‘wow there’s that same self belief that I’ve got in myself’.

‘Things like that are so important, building a good relationship with him, with Daniel, speaking to other players, obviously, I know a lot of them anyway, and playing against them for so many years, I feel like I have such a good understanding with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and now I’m part of it, and I have this lovely white shirt on, I’m ready to go.’

Maddison said Postecoglou told him he would change Spurs regardless of whether he joined

Maddison – who suffered relegation with Leicester last season – admitted a footballer’s career ‘is like a rollercoaster’, but is determined to establish himself as a top player at a big club. 

‘As soon as I could walk I was kicking a ball. Your career is like a rollercoaster from the start. Just like a little boy. I think I’ve always had that in me, that leadership, that winning mentality. I’ve just always had that love for the game and that self belief that I would get to this point and it’s something that I will never change,’ he explained.

‘I never want it to come across as arrogant or out of line or big headed, because my mum would shout at me for starters. It’s just that self belief and confidence that I’m going to do well and I’m going to get to where I eventually need to be.’