Davinson Sanchez’s agent, Fernando Villarreal, has lifted the veil on the mysterious collapse of the Colombian defender’s anticipated move to Spartak Moscow last summer. Initially set to join the Russian club for a £13 million fee, the deal took an unexpected turn, leading Sanchez to ultimately land at Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig.

Spartak Moscow’s sporting director, Oleg Malyshev, recently acknowledged the deal’s collapse, revealing that Sanchez, despite being ready to travel from North London, couldn’t complete the move.

In an exclusive interview with Russian news outlet Sport Express, agent Fernando Villarreal disclosed the actual reason behind the failed transfer, stating, “The real reason is that the transfer simply could not take place. The Premier League and the English government did not allow transfers to Russia.”

Villarreal added that Sanchez and his family were fully prepared for the move, emphasizing, “Davinson and his wife were completely ready to move, with the Tottenham chairman allegedly confirming to Spartak that the deal would no longer be going ahead. At the moment, when we made the decision, we received a call from Spartak and were told that Daniel Levy informed them that the transfer was impossible. There was no problem for the footballer to go to Russia.”

Despite the unexpected twist, the 27-year-old centre-back made a positive impact at Galatasaray, contributing to seven wins in eight games where he started. However, Sanchez faced setbacks with injuries, including a hamstring strain in November and a toe injury the following month, sidelining him for four games.

As Sanchez focuses on his recovery, Tottenham Hotspur has strengthened its defensive options, recently acquiring Radu Dragusin to reinforce the squad’s backline.