Tottenham’s Brazilian midfielder concedes that it was a wrench to return to his homeland for six months after signing his contract with Spurs back in March.

SANDRO admits that he endured an agonising wait for the start of his Spurs career at the end of last season, watching from Brazil as his new club fought for fourth place.

The 21-year-old signed for Tottenham back in March but, unusually, had to wait six months to join his new team-mates after finishing the campaign with his former club Internacional.

Sandro left the Brazilian outfit on a high by winning the Copa Libertadores, the south American equivalent of the Champions League.

However the midfielder concedes that, having signed his contract with the Lilywhites in the spring, he was loath to leave England and return to his homeland.

“When I first came over to sign, all I wanted to do was to get started here with Spurs as quickly as possible,” he said. “It is a pleasure just to be here and I’m happy to be given the opportunity to join a club like Spurs.

“It is a club that holds a good deal of renown back home in Brazil, where televised English football is very popular. I already knew that they are one of the well-established and biggest clubs in England and in Europe because of their history, and you can feel that great footballing tradition by just walking into the stadium.

“I followed the club’s progress closely last season, cheering them on from home and hoping that they would take that fourth place in the league. When it happened, it was an absolutely fantastic moment.

“I know that the club has everything it needs to go on to further success and I will do everything I can to help. The Premier League is the best league in the world. It is a strong league played at great pace and I think my style of play will adapt quickly to this kind of football.”

Sandro won his third cap for Brazil on Monday night in a 2-0 friendly win over Ukraine, and he admits that his arrival at Tottenham has been aided by the presence of his countryman Heurelho Gomes.

“It really makes me feel a lot more at home knowing that someone like Gomes is here,” said Sandro. “Apart from Gomes I didn’t know anyone here on arrival but I am getting to know the players more and more each day, and they have been very welcoming.”

Gomes is more than happy to return the compliment: “He’s a good, young player who can do a great job for us,” said the goalkeeper. “It may take him time to adapt because football is so different here but he is a quality player and will soon show how good he is. I’ve seen a lot of him in Brazil and I like his style. It’s a style that will suit Spurs well and I predict great things from him.”

You can read the full interview with Sandro in the latest edition of Hotspur magazine. Out now!