SHOCKING BETRAYAL: French Star FORCED Against His Will into Tottenham Nightmare – “They Dragged Me Kicking & Screaming!”
Former Tottenham midfielder admits he had reservations about several transfers in his career, including his move to Spurs.
Tottenham Hotspur went through a difficult spell throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, with the club struggling for direction and consistency until Martin Jol’s arrival helped spark an upward turn.
During those lean years, the North London side was known for a revolving door of players—many of whom failed to leave any lasting impression at White Hart Lane.
Among them was a French midfielder who recently opened up about his regrets over joining the club on loan during that turbulent era.
Stephane Dalmat admits he regrets his Tottenham move
The player in question, Stéphane Dalmat, joined Tottenham Hotspur on loan from Inter Milan in the summer of 2003.
Initially, his performances in the Premier League were encouraging, and he looked like a player capable of adding flair and creativity to a side in transition.
However, his form soon declined in the second half of the campaign, and off-field issues began to frustrate the club’s hierarchy. As a result, Spurs opted not to make his stay permanent.
Dalmat’s career was something of a footballing odyssey. The Frenchman turned out for 11 different clubs, moving from one destination to another without ever truly settling.
Reflecting on his career in an interview with Girondins 4 Ever, Dalmat admitted that poor advice and the influence of agents led him down a path of instability.
“It’s the agents who want to make money on transfers,” he explained. “My agents at the time—from Châteauroux to Lens, Lens to Marseille, Marseille to Paris, Paris to Inter—they earned plenty.
Not one of them told me to stop and think about what was best for my career, that I should stay somewhere and build stability.”
Dalmat went on to describe how sporting directors Éric Di Meco and Jean-Philippe Durand at Marseille pushed him toward a move abroad, striking agreements with Tottenham and Newcastle United.
“I told Di Meco I didn’t want to go abroad. I wanted to stay in France—at Marseille, or maybe with another French club like Monaco, Lyon, or Paris,” Dalmat continued.
“But the deal was done for €70,000 at PSG, even though I wanted to remain in Marseille.”
He admitted that his lack of formal football education and his constant transfers in quick succession left him unsettled.
“I didn’t go through a youth academy, so I was never really trained in how to manage my career. Between all the moves—Toulouse, Tottenham, Bordeaux—I lost continuity.
I didn’t have the right people around me to guide me, to tell me to take my time or stay put for another year to grow.”
Looking back, Dalmat believes that staying at Lens longer could have benefited him greatly.
“If someone had told me to stay at Lens for a second season to confirm my talent, maybe things would’ve been different. But who turns down Marseille at 19? For me, Marseille was something special.”
A cautionary tale for young footballers
While some might argue that Dalmat should shoulder the blame for his own choices, his story underscores how difficult it can be for young players navigating the business side of football.
Many rely heavily on agents and advisors, who do not always act with the player’s long-term interests in mind.
Ultimately, Dalmat’s reflections highlight the importance of stability, mentorship, and trusted guidance—especially in a profession where most of a player’s key decisions are made in their twenties.
His experience serves as a cautionary tale for rising talents hoping to avoid the pitfalls of poor advice and too many early transfers.
