Ricardo Rocha on the look-out for new club

Tottenham defender becomes free agent

Former Benfica and Portugal centre-back Ricardo Rocha is a free agent. Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur will not be renewing his contract which has now ended. Rocha is keen to prolong his career abroad but has not ruled out a return to Portugal.

“To be honest I’d like to continue abroad, as my experience at Tottenham only went well in the first seven or eight months. My family likes living abroad, but I’m not ruling out a return to Portugal,” Rocha told Portuguese site Maisfutebol.

The tough-tackling defender also revealed that Vitoria Guimaraes attempted to sign him during the winter transfer window.

“In January I spoke to Cajuda (Guimaraes coach), who I have a very good relationship with. He wanted to know if I was interested in going to Vitoria on loan, but I told him I would be fulfilling my contract with Tottenham until the end.

Costly operation

“At Tottenham I started well, then I needed an operation and when I came back a lot of things had changed. At the start of the season I had some proposals but Tottenham didn’t want to sell me. I just had to be professional like I always was until the last day of my contract.

“We learn from the good moments and the bad moments. I learned to get over the problems and I improved my family relationship a lot. I spent a lot of time with my wife and kids.

“Of course at Benfica I was treated in one way and I’m leavening Tottenham in different circumstances. I enjoyed excellent moments at the Luz, where I won titles, but I can’t forget the friends I made at Tottenham.”

by Tom Kundert