Mauricio Pochettino: Big clubs would 'fight' to buy Tottenham prospect Marcus Edwards if he were Brazilian

Rising star: Tottenham prospect Marcus Edwards
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Sam Long25 October 2016

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino believes the world's biggest clubs would be "fighting" to buy Marcus Edwards if he was from Brazil or Argentina.

The 17-year-old is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Tottenham's youth academy, having made his senior debut in September's EFL Cup victory over Gillingham.

Pochettino has done little to dampen the hype surrounding Edwards after comparing the teenager to Lionel Messi but will be unable to call upon the teenager against Liverpool tonight.

Edwards has been ruled out for seven weeks with an ankle injury and Pochettino is adamant the midfielder would have a bigger reputation if he had been born elsewhere.

"Maybe if Marcus Edwards were born in Brazil or Argentina, today he would be one of the most interesting prospects in football in the world," Pochettino insisted.

"Maybe all the big teams would be fighting to buy him. But he is at Tottenham, he is in England and, at 17, he is still a kid.

"We cannot appreciate he is a man, nearly a man, and he deserves to play. That is the cultural difference."

The majority of Premier League clubs have struggled to promote youth players in recent years, with clubs and managers under pressure to produce immediate success.

Purchasing ready-made players has been made easier due to the division's rich resources - courtesy of a huge television broadcast deal - but Pochettino is determined to strike a balance between the two schools of thought.

"Tottenham is in a different project. Of course, we bring in players but we try to give the opportunity to the younger players who have potential one day to be in the first team.

"It is for the clubs to sell the players as they need the money to survive. In Argentina if you are 19 or 20 and you haven't made your debut people think you are not a good player.

"It is a completely different vision of football," Pochettino added.

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