Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino has shrugged off comments from “enemy” Xavi regarding a possible move to Manchester City for Dele Alli.
The Barcelona legend has suggested that a big-money bid from the Etihad Stadium could arrive this summer, with Pep Guardiola said to be a big fan of a “special player”.
Pochettino, though, has made it clear that he has no intention of parting with any of his prized assets.
'Eriksen good enough for Barca'
He has also accused Xavi, a former rival from his days at Catalan rivals Espanyol, of talking too much.
"Xavi is in a period where he loves to talk. He is working for Manchester City, maybe," smiled Pochettino, clearly half-joking.
"He is playing in Qatar and he was a Barcelona player, he's my enemy. He tried to destroy our focus to win because he hates me. He's Barcelona – a player, a fan, you know.
"I remember the game when Xavi fell down [in 2009], it wasn't a penalty, but the referee awarded it. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the penalty and Barcelona won the game. Xavi fell and said ‘penalty!’ and it was given.
"On the replays, it was very funny because nobody touched him. At Tottenham we are doing things and the club has a lot of potential, so there is focus on a talented player."
Pochettino added on his desire to keep an exciting Spurs squad together as it chases down the Premier League title once again: "My relationship with [chairman] Daniel Levy is very close. We have a plan to improve and we will deliver it when we finish the season.
Poch: No guarantee that Alli stays
"The players we want to keep, we will keep, because the chairman said to me: 'We don’t need the money.'
"If we sell some players, it is because we want to. We will sell players because of the players we want to sign.
"For our fans, it is so clear that all the decisions we take are to try to improve the team, try to be more competitive next season."
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