Tanguy Ndombele says Mauricio Pochettino's powers of persuasion coupled with a tantalising 'project' convinced him to join Tottenham rather than another one of Europe's elite clubs.

Heading in to the 2019 summer transfer window, Spurs had not signed a single player since Lucas Moura in January 2018.

Despite budget limitations and a delayed move to the clubs' new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Mauricio Pochettino managed to guide Spurs to the Champions League Final and a top-four finish.

Spurs lost to Liverpool in the Madrid final, and Pochettino called on Daniel Levy to back him in the transfer market in order to continue the club's momentum.

The Spurs chairman duly delivered with two signings in one day, completing a move for Leeds winger Jack Clarke (loaned back to the Elland Road club) before announcing a club-record deal for Ndombele for an initial £55.5million.

Levy played a key role in fending off late interest from Manchester United, flying in to Lyon to help secure the transfer.

Ndombele agrees that some people may be surprised at him choosing Spurs when the likes of United, Liverpool, Juventus and PSG were also in the running, telling L'Equipe: "Yes, I do [understand]. But when you look closely, I think that it is a very good choice.

Tottenham squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers 27 show all Tottenham squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers 1/27 We run you through Tottenham's squad for the 2019-20 season... Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 2/27 Hugo Lloris Squad Number: 1



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Contract expires: 30/06/2021 Getty Images/Tottenham Hotspur FC 1/27 We run you through Tottenham's squad for the 2019-20 season... Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 2/27 Hugo Lloris Squad Number: 1



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 REUTERS 10/27 Eric Dier Squad Number: 15



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Contract expires: 30/06/2021 Action Images via Reuters 11/27 Kyle Walker-Peters Squad Number: 16



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Action Images via Reuters 12/27 Moussa Sissoko Squad Number: 17



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images 13/27 Giovani Lo Celso Squad Number: 18



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 14/27 Ryan Sessegnon Squad Number: 19



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Contract expires: 30/06/2025 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 15/27 Dele Alli Squad Number: 20



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 AFP/Getty Images 16/27 Juan Foyth Squad Number: 21



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 Getty Images 17/27 Paulo Gazzaniga Squad Number: 22



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 Getty Images 18/27 Steven Bergwijn Squad Number: 23



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Contract expires: 30/06/2025 REUTERS 19/27 Serge Aurier Squad Number: 24



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Contract expires: 30/06/2022 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 20/27 Lucas Moura Squad Number: 27



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Action Images via Reuters 21/27 Tanguy Ndombele Squad Number: 28



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Contract expires: 30/06/2025 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 22/27 Gedson Fernandes Squad Number: 30



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Contract expires: On loan until summer 2021 Getty Images 23/27 Ben Davies Squad Number: 33



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 24/27 Oliver Skipp Squad Number: 52



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Contract expires: 30/06/2021 Action Images via Reuters 25/27 Troy Parrott Squad Number: 52



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images 26/27 Danny Rose Squad Number: 3



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Contract expires: 30/06/2021 REUTERS 27/27 Japhet Tanganga Squad Number: 39



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Contract expires: 30/06/2021 Getty Images/Tottenham Hotspur FC

"What guided me was the Premier League, the top four in England, with a very good manager, who is going to help me to take steps forward. I had come to a turning point in my life. You weigh up the pros and cons. And then you decide."

Ndombele says that Tottenham was an attractive project compared to rival offers: "They have quite a young team, with very good players. When a club was a Champions League finalist this season, you have to look at their project.

"To put €70m [the total potential value of his deal] on the table for me, it was a strong signal. When I look at Tottenham, I see a big European club. It is another dimension. To go to the next level, it was the best choice."

However, the midfielder admits that Spurs was by no means his default choice: "Not at all. It was deeply thought through. Tottenham have one of the best managers in the world. The fact that he wants you, it makes you want to come work with him. He was the one who shifted my decision."

So, how did Pochettino convince him?

"It is difficult to describe but he knows how to touch people, to leave a mark on people. He looked at me in the eyes and said: 'Come with me, I am sure that you will progress.'

"It is these types of little things that made me want to sign over there. I could see that he really, genuinely wanted me, that he genuinely liked me."

Asked about whether he would have enjoyed linking up with his friend Kylian Mbappe at PSG, Ndombele said: "Yes, PSG are a great club, in the city in which I grew up.

"Today, I am not disappointed. Not at all. Aside from football, as a man, it is better for me to go to London, it will allow me to discover a new country, a new culture of football. I am going to come out of my cocoon."