Dos Santos: Ready for challenge

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Giovani Dos Santos has revealed that he opted to leave Barcelona because he wanted to be able to play first team football every week and knew that was impossible at Camp Nou.

The Mexican starlet made the surprise move to Tottenham for an initial fee of only 6million euros (£4.75m) at the end of the season and raised a few eyebrows in the process.

After rising through the ranks at Barca, Dos Santos was tipped to be a big success with the Catalan giants, but he could not afford to wait for his chance.

"Why did I go? For sporting reasons," he told Sport.

"I am conscious that I was with a great club and that I needed patience to succeed because not every moment was going to be good, but I am at an age where if I want to be someone in the game I have to play regularly.

"Barca tried to convince me to stay, but it was best that I left."

Matured

Dos Santos was reported to have demanded a bigger contract from Barca, only to be told that he would have to earn a rise with his performances on the pitch, but he has dismissed those rumours.

"I do not want to know about the economic side of the move, I just believe that I came out on top because I hope to have the chance to continue growing as a player with a team that will let me," he continued.

"I was at the club six years, all my career, and my parents now live in Barcelona and my brother is also playing for them.

"I learned so much on a sporting level and on a personal level. I have matured in many aspects. I have been through things that at my age is not always easy.

"Not everything in football is going to be good and when something like this comes along again I will be ready to react.

"I began the season well and I finished it well.

"The fans only think of me from last year, but those that knew me at youth level and in the national team know what I can really do."

Excited

Barcelona were keen to send Dos Santos out on loan for a season, but he insisted that if he left then it would be on a permanent basis and chose to join Tottenham.

"When I go to a place I like to give everything without thinking about having to prove myself and then return to Barca. I have to focus and give my all to the club I am playing for," he continued.

"Only then can you really be at your best and not thinking about being somewhere else some of the time.

"I am very excited about the Premier League now. It is a league where players are well respected and I cannot wait to start training and playing.

"My English is terrible, but I will learn."

Juande Ramos was cited as the main reason that he joined the club by Dos Santos last month and he admits that he is excited by the prospect of working under the Tottenham boss.

"I have talked to him and he seems incredible. I cannot wait to start working with him," he added.