Didier Zokora has revealed the fact that he chose to join Tottenham ahead of their bitter rivals Arsenal this summer.
The 25-year-old, who arrived for £8.2million said: “Tottenham are an ambitious club with lots of good young players and for me they are a club for the future.
“I listened to an offer from Arsenal, but decided Tottenham was the club I wanted to be at.
“One of the big things was that Tottenham really showed that they wanted me. That really pleased me.
“Kolo Toure and Eboue are friends of mine, and of course it would have been nice to play with them - but I really wanted to go to Tottenham.
“I was impressed by them and I know Damien Comolli, their director of football. I was very impressed by what they had to offer.
“Comolli came out to speak to me in Germany and told me what a great club Tottenham is. I’m also very excited about playing with players like Aaron Lennon, who are the future of English football.”
When asked about the transfer of Michael Carrick to Manchester United Zokora added: “It would have been nice if Michael Carrick had stayed because he’s a good player who has played for England.
“I saw him in the World Cup. But that’s the way things go, some people stay, some people go.
“There is a lot of pressure but I love pressure. That’s what it’s all about.
“I wasn’t known in England before I came and it’s a big price tag so I need to perform even better than the expectations to show people I’m worth even more money than they spent on me.
“I’m an ambitious player. We finished fifth last season, and we’ve got into the UEFA Cup but this season I don’t see any reason why we can’t finish in the top four. You have got to be ambitious.”