ON-loan Spurs striker Giovani dos Santos admits his future is very much up in the air but would love a reunion with Juande Ramos and be playing for Real Madrid next season.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

ON-loan Spurs striker Giovani dos Santos admits his future is very much up in the air but would love a reunion with Juande Ramos and be playing for Real Madrid next season.

With so many Premier League clubs and top European outfits interested in the Mexican international it is unlikely he will return to Portman Road but nothing has yet been decided.

Dos Santos has already shown his quality, and netted two goals during his loan spell with the Blues and Ipswich are keen to get him back next season but face stiff competition.

He said: “I'm pleased that the manager here is pleased with me and wants me for another year. I will finish the season but I don't know what is going to happen after that.

A year ago the 19-year-old whizz kid was playing in the huge Spanish 'classicos' against Real Madrid for La Liga leaders Barcelona. He also netted a hat-trick for Barca against La Murcia and courted the attentions of some of Europe's top clubs before Juande Ramos snapped him up for Spurs in a deal that could be worth as much as �8.7m.

Dos Santos admits he would relish the chance to be reunited with the coach who is now boss at Real Madrid.

“If Ramos makes me and offer and he is still at real Madrid of course I would be interested.

“Both types of football are very different but everyone recognises that the Premier League is the best in the world. I have always wanted to play in the Premiership and I would play either in the Premiership or abroad I just want to play.

“All I can do in the summer is speak with Tottenham and speak with my people and see what happens.”

An ankle injury, disciplinary problems over a drinking incident over Christmas and the change of manager at White Hart Lane have meant an eventful first season in English football but dos Santos intends to benefit from the experience.

He said: “It has been a complicated year and there have been a lot of changes with coaches and managers and I have to learn to play and work for different coaches and managers.

“Harry Redknapp is a very good trainer and is doing well at Tottenham. It is nothing personal. He picks what he thinks is his best XI and we have no issues.

“It has not been a great year. When I came to Tottenham I expected to play but this happens in football and I have learnt a lot about myself and about football here.

“I'm pleased to now be playing regularly and all I can do is my best for Ipswich and see what happens at the end of the season.”

Dos Santos is no stranger to Norwich after scoring against tem in a pre-season friendly for Spurs who triumphed 5-1 at Carrow Road.

Dos Santos recalls: “Norwich had a good team out and it was a competitive game. It is hard to win game sin England as many of the teams are very similar.

“It is important that we win. I feel I'm in form and I hope I can get a goal for the team to win and for the supporters.”

Nor will he be fazed by a 28,000 crowd at Portman road after playing at packed stadiums like the Nou Camp and Bernabeu.

He said: “The Barca v Real Madrid games are the biggest fixtures of the season for the fans, the club and in the games I played we drew one and lost one.”

With Jon Walters a doubt dos Santos could start on the right side of midfield and be allowed to roam inside.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk