Antonio Conte issues update on Barcelona loanee Clement Lenglet’s Tottenham future

Speaking to the media, Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has given an update on the future of Barcelona loanee Clement Lenglet and whether he can stay in England beyond the current season.

Lenglet, a Barcelona player since 2017, left the club on loan this past summer after having fallen out of prominence at Spotify Camp Nou.

The French international signed for Spurs on a season-long loan deal and there have been conflicting reports regarding the existence of an option to make his transfer permanent.

Since joining the Lilywhites, Lenglet has played 15 times in all competitions, scoring one goal and setting up two more.

Talking about how the Barcelona loanee has fared in north London, Conte, as quoted by the Evening Standard, said: “Clement is a really good player, don’t forget that we are talking someone who played five years in Barcelona.

“When you play for many years in this type of club, with great history, great importance, it means that you are a good player. I think about him he needed to put himself in a new challenge.

“And when I spoke with him in the summer I was very clear with him, if you decide to play you have to come with us, you will play, a really good player good personality, technically and good choices in the game.”

Praising Lenglet’s commitment and attitude, Conte added: “I can tell you that he was a big surprise for me in a positive way for his attitude, commitment, behaviour. He’s always 120 per cent during the training sessions, if he starts or if he knows he’s not going to start.”

As for the possibility of Lenglet remaining at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium beyond the current season, Conte insisted that the final decision will be up to the club, saying:

“I don’t know the situation about his contract. I can make an evaluation about what I see in training and on the pitch, then I can give my opinion to the club. But you know, the club has the last decision.”

Lenglet’s contract with Barcelona runs until 2026 after the defender had renewed in 2020 when Josep Maria Bartomeu was still the club president.

Given that he has no place in Xavi’s plans and the fact that he is on very high wages, Barcelona will hope that Tottenham sign him up permanently at the end of the season.