Juan Foyth

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Because that football london site is a fucking ad strewn disaster area...


The scar on Juan Foyth's right cheek sums up the young Tottenham Hotspur defender.

The Argentine, who turned 21 last month, wears the thin line on his cheek like a badge of honour.

It was earned in November after his first national squad call-up, colliding with team-mate Walter Kannemann during one of his early training sessions with the group.

There were fears that Foyth would miss out on making his debut against Mexico that week. He wasn't having any of it, insisting he would stay with the group. The gash was stitched up, he started against Mexico and was presented with the man of the match award at the final whistle.

That is Foyth in a nutshell. He tackles every challenge with gusto and a little bit of flair on top.

On Friday afternoon, the young centre-back was facing a challenge more terrifying than any opponent's flailing elbow - a school assembly hall full of 200 children.

Used to playing in front of thousands, Foyth was still nervous as he stepped into the large hall at Chestnuts Primary School in Tottenham, worried about pleasing his young audience and concerned about his grasp of the English language.

He needn't have worried. Foyth's command of the English language is much better than he gives himself credit for, only using a translator when he wants to really make sure his point gets across.

He's a bright, always smiling young man who soon had the room full of youngsters cheering at his crowd-pleasing answers to their varied and testing questions.

He also helped staff from the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation deliver a PE lesson for a class of children afterwards, as part of the Premier League Primary Stars programme, before teaching another group some choice Spanish phrases and words.

What quickly becomes clear when witnessing him up close is that Foyth relishes adapting to new situations. It's that versatility that his manager Mauricio Pochettino craves in his players.


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Juan Foyth teaches Spanish to children from Chestnuts Primary School
Adaptability could be Foyth's mantra, whether it's adapting to a new country, a new league, a new manager, a new culture and even a new position.

For those who find his ability to dribble and his skill on the ball remarkable for a towering and slightly gangly centre-back, it's because Foyth was an attacking midfielder back home in Argentina until as late as 16-years-old.

It was Martin Gaimaro, the head coach of Estudiantes' U16s, who realised that the rapidly-growing young academy star had all the attributes to become a star at the back.

"I started playing as an attacking midfielder but as time went by I grew taller, because I had been quite short, and maybe I lost a bit of the dribbling ability I had, and that’s why gradually I was moved to a defensive midfielder and then I ended up as a central defender when I was 16. It's late no?" he asked football.london.

"In the moment I was happy because when we played small-sized games I always said ‘I’m Rio Ferdinand’.

"When I started to play there it was hard because I didn't touch the ball too much, but after a few games it was normal and I enjoyed it."

Foyth's marauding, slaloming runs from the back have already quickly become a trademark element of his performances so far in a Tottenham shirt.

Does his past as an attacking midfielder give him a different insight when it comes to understanding his opponents?

“Maybe yes," he thought. "Maybe it also gives me a bit more confidence on the ball, but the problem is when I play in midfield I want to take the ball every time so maybe I have to be careful."

Foyth's love of both defensive and attacking football is showcased in his wide spectrum of football idols.

"I looked up to [Ferdinand] very much. I used to like his physical strength. Another player I used to watch a lot was Lucio at Bayern Munich – I paid attention to his style," he said.

"But when I was young, Kaka was my idol because I played a bit more forward and he played in the same position. I watched the games he played for Milan against Boca Juniors [in 2007's Club World Cup final and in 2003 in the competition's predecessor The Toyota Cup].

"It’s true that it's unusual for Argentinians to idolise Brazilians, but I liked their style and personality."


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Juan Foyth enjoys a PE lesson with the children
In the end though it was an Argentine who would decide the next chapter in Foyth's career.

The young defender had only just broken into Estudiantes' first team and played a handful of matches towards the end of the 2016/17 season when both PSG and Tottenham bid for his signature and sparked a summer long battle for his services.

Word had spread quickly about the then teenage centre-back who had played at the U20 World Cup and the French giants looked to have tied up a deal for him.

However a phone conversation with Pochettino left Foyth in no doubt about his destination.

"I had the chance to talk to Mauricio and he told me I had very good features but that he was going to improve that, and so far I’m learning, slowly, but I have great support," admitted Foyth.

“More than anything I decided on Tottenham because there was an Argentinian manager, and also the coaching team was from Argentina – or they can speak Spanish. Then also because it was a club that supported young players a lot.

"Another reason that influenced my decision was because the manager was a defender as well so he might have very good recommendations and advice to give me. I think I've improved physically but there’s still room for improvement."

He explained further: "The game in Argentina is quite physical as well but maybe a bit more disorganised so when you come over here, if physically your body is not quite ready for it you really feel the difference.

"I think I've improved in my skills as a defender because I haven't been playing as a defender very long. That area is improving every day."

Settling into life in England was the next challenge Foyth had to take on and his move from Argentina came with one cost, fragmenting his close-knit family as they looked to support both him and his sister Karen in their endeavours.

Even his fiancée Ariana - Foyth proposed to her last month - has to spend much of her time in their homeland.

"My family is mostly in Argentina. My dad is here supporting me and helping me with all things so I can just play football," explained the Spurs defender.

"It’s what I wanted and it’s my dream so he helps me with a lot of things.

"I’m engaged now but all my family and my girlfriend are still living in Argentina. My sister studies there, my mum has now finished work but my girlfriend is studying as well. Next year my girlfriend, I think she will come."


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Juan Foyth at Chestnuts Primary School

Foyth once admitted that arriving at Spurs in the summer of 2017 was nerve-wracking because his only previous experience of the club's stars had been playing FIFA as them on his games console.

But, as well as his father Ariel, what has also helped Foyth is his tight Spanish-speaking friendship group with fellow Argentines Erik Lamela and Paulo Gazzaniga, Colombian Davinson Sanchez and the old head of the group, Spaniard Fernando Llorente.

"Fernando looks like my older brother! All the players are really good," he said. "In the first moment when I arrived I was really nervous because of the status of the players but they are really good guys and on the second or third day here I was relaxed and enjoying everything."

For Foyth, the climate of England is also very different to where he was born and raised - La Plata, the capital city of the Buenos Aires province, where the February weather is currently around 30 degree centigrade.

"In Argentina it can get cold as well, but when it’s hot there, here it’s cold so maybe you see pictures from back home and the people are in the sun and you say ‘oh…’," he laughed.

"But it’s nice to be here. I want to be here. It’s my dream so I enjoy it. I don’t care about the weather.

"Maybe with the car [it was difficult], driving on the other side of the road, but in just two weeks you are good!"


It hasn't all been plain sailing for Foyth. His first season came and went without a Premier League appearance as he had to take any chances to impress in the domestic cup competitions.

He made just one appearance in the Champions League, in a dead rubber game against Apoel Nicosia after Spurs had already topped the group, before Pochettino had to break some bad news to him.

The arrival of Lucas Moura from PSG on deadline day in January 2018 added to the club's already over the limit number of foreign players and meant the Spurs boss had to make a "painful" decision and tell Foyth that he would be dropped from the Champions League squad.

The young defender could have kicked up a fuss or made his disappointment clear, but Pochettino said he took it like a professional and a year on Foyth has not changed his tune.

"He explained to me and understood because perhaps it was necessary to have another player in my position," said the 21-year-old.

"I also understood that there is a hierarchy in the club and among the players and I have to earn my position there."


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Juan Foyth with the children

Foyth played just five FA Cup matches in the remainder of that campaign and his season effectively ended in February.

Any hope he had of making an impression on Pochettino and the coaches in pre-season, with the club's World Cup stars absent, was snuffed out by a troublesome thigh injury which not only ruled him out of the team's US tour but also the first month of the season.

There were plenty of reports linking Foyth with a loan move to Championship side Leeds United, to link up with fellow Argentine and Pochettino mentor Marcelo Bielsa. However, such a move never entered Foyth's thoughts.

"I was never told anything about that so I don't know whether it was actually true or not," he explained.

"I have to guide myself on what my agent says. Despite everything I started the season really wanting and looking forward to being here, despite not having a position [in the Champions League squad] and I just wanted to learn day by day."

Spurs' failure to sell any players in the summer meant Foyth once again missed out on the European squad but his patience was eventually rewarded when injuries to Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez handed him a big opportunity this season.


He finally made his Premier League debut at Wolves on November 3. It was a debut to remember. Foyth was in excellent form throughout the game until he conceded two late penalties to almost gift the hosts a way back into the match.

Spurs held on to win 3-2 but Foyth's penalty pain drew plenty of attention. Pochettino however gave his backing to the young centre-back.

"I think he understood, He was a central defender like me, he played in my position and he told me that this is a situation he had been in," explained Foyth.

"He always supports us and this gives you confidence you know to go forward and keep working. It's really, really nice."

Foyth bounced back by scoring the winner in the next match at Crystal Palace - his first senior goal. His performances continued to impress Pochettino - who perhaps saw a bit of himself in the young, confident defender - and Foyth began to rack up the Premier League appearances, against Chelsea, Woolwich, Southampton and Bournemouth.

The Argentina coaches had long kept tabs on Foyth and having previously asked Pochettino about him early in the season when he was injured, the time was right for that first call-up.


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Juan Foyth with his man of the match award after his Argentina debut

"Obviously it's a dream to fulfil and hopefully there will be many more occasions to do so," the defender explained of that debut against Mexico.

However, Lionel Messi's current exile from the national team robbed Foyth of the chance to take to the pitch with arguably the world's best player.

"It will be a dream [if he returns]," admitted Foyth. "I have trained with him when I used to play for the U20s. The U20s trained with the first team.

"It was unbelievable. It was just training so it was more calm but he was still dribbling past players whenever he wants."

Did Foyth ever tackle Messi? "No, no, no!" came the answer with a laugh.


When it comes to his homeland, there has also been the pain of watching the tragic story unfold of another Argentine who was set to launch his own career in England - Emiliano Sala.

Foyth, along with Lamela and Gazzaniga, had been vocal on social media in their efforts to continue the search for the plane carrying the Cardiff City striker and pilot David Ibbotson after it came down near Guernsey last month.

However, when Foyth sat down with football.london, it was the morning after the plane and Sala's body had been recovered.

"For everyone in the world of football, and everyone from Argentina, it's a horrible piece of news," admitted the young defender.

"But now the important thing is to be behind his family and let them know they have all of our support and try to help them.

"It puts football into perspective and reminds everyone to enjoy their careers. That's precisely the thought you have when things like this happen. Today also checking the news I learned that some boys from Flamengo have died in an accident. Again a very sad piece of news."


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Juan Foyth
Foyth is an intelligent young man, that's clear when you speak to him, with the answers either coming back in unbroken English or in even greater detail through the translator. He understands every question asked of him without the need for translation.

That brightness and willingness to learn has helped him in taking on everything Pochettino asks of his players.

Foyth's progression this season has impressed many at the club and with Mousa Dembele's exit to China last month, Pochettino made it clear that the defender had earned the right to be restored to the club's Champions League squad and he duly was placed back on to the list ahead of this Wednesday's last 16 first leg clash against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

"It's a great joy to me," said Foyth. "It's something really beautiful to be playing these final stages of this competition."

Then there is the long-term future. Some people have suggested that like Eric Dier, Foyth could eventually return to a midfield role because of his ability on the ball, his dribbling and eye for a pass.

"I don't know [if it's a future role for me]. Perhaps the technical team, if they see that it's something they're thinking about, but I wouldn't know," he admitted. "If they want me to play in any position I will do it."

For Foyth it's all about the now, continuing to push forward and he is savvy enough to know that it was always going to be a gradual process at Tottenham.

"I knew it wasn't going to be easy, that I wasn't going to be playing for the early matches," he said.

"But I have been talking to the technical team, working with them to improve my condition and skills and bring those forward. I'm really happy with that work."

So is Pochettino, and Foyth's development is filling plenty of people at Tottenham with hope that they've found a defender who could lead their backline for years to come.

That's not a daunting challenge for Foyth, it's just another thing to take in his long-legged stride.
 
Dodgy moment aside in the first half (Which was more down to a poor pass from Sanchez and Alderweirelds positioning), I thought he was excellent today.

A huge game against one of the best teams in Europe and he dealt with Pulisic comfortably, had him in his pocket all game pretty much. His use of the ball was excellent and as ever very very good on the ball. First start in the Champions League this season and this is the level he's at.

What a star this lad is going to be.
 
Dodgy moment aside in the first half (Which was more down to a poor pass from Sanchez and Alderweirelds positioning), I thought he was excellent today.

A huge game against one of the best teams in Europe and he dealt with Pulisic comfortably, had him in his pocket all game pretty much. His use of the ball was excellent and as ever very very good on the ball. First start in the Champions League this season and this is the level he's at.

What a star this lad is going to be.

Future Rolls Royce mate. Elegant, classy and constantly learning. What a signing he's going to turn out to be
 
Future Rolls Royce mate. Elegant, classy and constantly learning. What a signing he's going to turn out to be

Absolute bargain too.

21 years old. Can be whatever he wants to be. I love his confidence and swagger, not afraid of making those mistakes, which will iron out the more games and more experience he gains.
 
Absolute bargain too.

21 years old. Can be whatever he wants to be. I love his confidence and swagger, not afraid of making those mistakes, which will iron out the more games and more experience he gains.

That moment in th first half when he had a Dortmund player to his left and right and just dragged it through the middle and turned into open play. You knew he'd get out of the situation he was in. It's a pleasure to pay money to watch players like him
 
That moment in th first half when he had a Dortmund player to his left and right and just dragged it through the middle and turned into open play. You knew he'd get out of the situation he was in. It's a pleasure to pay money to watch players like him

That wasn't even the best part - the pass that followed it was even better. In between two Dortmund players taking both of them out of the game. So good!
 
He's a very unusual player to be as good as he is at his age. Really I can only fault him tonight on his decision making which is all about experience, I hope people allow him the odd mistake without getting on his back.
 
Bit of a rough first half, but like the rest of the team he grew into it and he looked like he belonged in the second half.

What a game to pop your CL cherry in
 
Loved that little burst down the right wing, with the one-two with Aurier. The Dortmund player just stopped, because he didn't expect a centre back to go on that kind of run. Wish we'd have scored from that, because it was a thing of beauty, which really deserved a goal to finish it off.
 
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