After a successful spell at PSV Eindhoven and two encouraging seasons at RB Leipzig, Xavi Simons, bought by Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, took the next step by discovering the Premier League this summer. Seven months after leaving PSG for good, the 22-year-old phenomenon joined Spurs for 60 million euros. A daring bet for the London team, which has not yet paid off at the start of the season.
Xavi Simons entered the game, warned, then left
Because Xavi Simons had to make up for the long absence of James Maddison, victim of a serious rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in pre-season. He stood out by providing an assist for his first match against West Ham in the Premier League (3-0), but his following eleven matches did not allow him to improve his meager statistical record. “I have to remember that when players come to a new club and country, we judge them on a small sample. I have no doubt that he will be important for us.”assured his manager Thomas Frank during his debut.
Since then, Xavi Simons has been far from unanimous in England, but the defeat in the London derby against Chelsea at home made everything worse. On the bench against their London rivals, the Dutchman came on after a concussion suffered by Lucas Bergvall in the 7th minute, but with Spurs trailing, Simons had received a yellow card and was struggling to find his rhythm. Thomas Frank therefore decided to take him out in place of Wilson Odobert in the 73rd minute.
The English press does not spare him
While he appeared very sad when he saw his jersey number displayed on the fourth referee’s replacement panel, Thomas Frank assured that“he played on Wednesday evening (in the Carabao Cup in Newcastle). He couldn’t play with this lack of energy and freshness. There’s not much to say about it, it is what it is.”. Taken by Spurs supporters on social networks, the 22-year-old Dutch offensive player did not escape criticism from the local press.
“Xavi Simons suffers the ultimate humiliation in the world of football. Tottenham’s summer recruit continues to struggle against Chelsea.titled the Daily Mail. Joined by the Sunwhich titled “SIM-ON SIM-OFF”. Ex-Tottenham player Jamie O’Hara expressed his anger at the player: “absolutely catastrophic today, the score should have been 4-0 to Chelsea. The players seem to have forgotten how to score a goal. Xavi Simons appears to be the worst 60 million purchase ever, as a junior team player who has never played for the first team, it’s shocking”. A complicated situation, as Tottenham will face Copenhagen, then PSG in the Champions League, before playing Arsenal and Manchester United in the Championship.
