Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier: 'Barcelona were scared to sign me'

Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier has claimed that he was in "very advanced negotiations" with Barcelona before eventually leaving Paris Saint-Germain for North London.

At the end of August, Spurs paid PSG a fee of £23m for Aurier, who has since gone on to make eight appearances in all competitions, but the Ivorian has suggested that he came close to making a move to Camp Nou.

Aurier enjoyed a successful time at the Parc des Princes, but the full-back has said that his image prevented a switch to the Catalan giants.

The 24-year-old told Canal Plus: "I think my reputation made four or five big European sides afraid.

"I was negotiating with Barcelona, very advanced negotiations. And Barcelona's people were not sure if I came here things would be different."

Barcelona instead decided to sign Nelson Semedo from Benfica.