Colombian Legend Opens Up on Failed Tottenham Transfer
Colombian football icon Óscar Córdoba has revealed how a potential move to Tottenham Hotspur was blocked at the last minute — not by performance or preference, but by his club president’s demands.
In a conversation on the Agradable y Claro podcast, Córdoba opened up about the deal that could have taken him to the Premier League during the peak of his career.
Córdoba’s Career and Achievements
Córdoba enjoyed one of the most successful careers in Colombian football history. He was a key part of Boca Juniors’ legendary squad of the late 1990s, playing alongside Juan Román Riquelme and Walter Samuel.
The team dominated South American football — winning multiple Copa Libertadores titles and famously defeating Real Madrid to lift the Intercontinental Cup in 2000.
Córdoba also represented Colombia’s national team, helping them win the Copa América in 2001.
Tottenham’s Offer and the Missed Move
After winning his second Copa Libertadores title, Córdoba began exploring a move to Europe. According to him, Tottenham Hotspur presented a concrete offer — but the deal fell through due to Boca Juniors’ then-president Mauricio Macri.
“I had an offer from Tottenham as soon as I became champion of the Copa Libertadores, my second, and I lost the Intercontinental with Bayern Munich,” Córdoba said.
“The offer came. It was real. I spoke with the people at Tottenham. I presented the offer to Macri, and he said no.”
Macri reportedly demanded $5 million, while Tottenham offered $3 million. Córdoba, already 32 years old at the time, thought the club’s valuation was unrealistic.
“I told him, ‘Mauricio, I’m 32 years old — not even my mother pays that for me anymore.’”
He added that Argentina’s financial crisis further complicated matters, as the club wanted to adjust player contracts according to currency devaluation — something Córdoba refused.
Move to Perugia Instead
When Italian side Perugia came calling, Córdoba decided to leave.
“Perugia arrived and I was already playing. I said, ‘no, I’m leaving.’ The only thing I knew about Perugia was that a Korean was playing there.”
Though he maintains a good relationship with Macri today, Córdoba admitted the incident left a lasting mark.
“At that moment, when he took away the possibility of reaching Tottenham, I told him, ‘no, I’m going anywhere — especially with the economic problems.’ So much so that Chicho, Jorge, and Palermo all left too.”
