How Spurs star has spent €1m of his own money to improve

FT Desk

30 Sept 2022 13:54 BST
3 min read

Emerson Royal in action for Tottenham. — © ProShots

Emerson Royal has spent a regal sum on ensuring he remains a first-team pick at Tottenham Hotspur under Antonio Conte.

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Emerson joined Spurs in a €29.3 million deal from Barcelona last summer but initially found himself as second-choice right-back behind Japhet Tanganga under Nuno Espirito Santo. His fortunes changed when Antonio Conte succeeded the Portuguese last November, though.

But Conte's 3-4-2-1 system puts extreme demands on his wingbacks, and never one to rest on his laurels, Brazil international Emerson has begun a full-scale operation on and off the field in order to keep his hard-won spot.

😎 Emerson 𝓮𝔁𝓬𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮.

🚙 @cinchuk pic.twitter.com/Mprqrq8f8E
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 3, 2021

According to the Sun, Emerson has spent £800,000 (€907,000) of his own money on goods and serviced to improve his performance.

"That has seen the ex-Real Betis loanee invest in a Vitaeris 320 hyperbaric chamber, which looks a bit like a bed and helps the user receive more oxygen to heal quicker," they write.

'Focus more, worry less'

"Dr Fabiano de Abreu Agrela, a neuroscientist and human behaviour specialist, has been brought on board and credited by others close to Royal for helping him focus more and worry less."

"He trusts and bets on it from the beginning," Dr De Abreu is quoted as saying. "He's willing to do what it takes to be at his best. It's not easy for a player to leave a type of culture and expectations and go to the fastest and most demanding league on the planet."

Emeron's measures have apparently been working. Only three outfield players - Harry Kane, Eric Dierr and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - have played more minutes in the Premier League this season, and he has been as asset at both end.

Emerson has averaged three clearances per game for Tottenham, but also had three touches per 90 minutes in the opposition penalty area. A start against Arsenal in the North London derby on Saturday seems assured.