LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino knows what it takes to be a success in Europe as a young South American defender, and he believes new Tottenham signing Davinson Sanchez has the quality to be one of the best centre-backs in the world.
Tottenham finalised a club-record £36.5 million deal for Sanchez this week -- beating several other clubs to his signature, according to Pochettino -- and he could debut against Burnley on Sunday if his work permit is approved in time.
Pochettino found it "very difficult" after moving to Espanyol from Argentine club Newell's Old Boys aged 22, a year older than Sanchez is now, but his newest player joined Ajax from Colombia a week after his 20th birthday, and was the club's player of the year in his only season in Amsterdam.
"That is what caught our attention with him," Pochettino said. "When he arrived at Ajax, from the beginning he showed his quality, started to show his character and personality. I think he was the best player for Ajax in his first season. That showed that he is a player with big character and personality, and with a lot of potential.
"When we knew about the possibility to sign him, it was a massive opportunity because we believe he will be one of the best centre-backs in the world in the future. That is why we made the effort to try to sign him," said the manager, who suggested that Tottenham had to wait for wealthier European clubs to finish their transfer business before moving for Sanchez.
The Colombia international quickly left his mark on Ajax and Pochettino wasted no time doing the same to him, admitting to clattering the 21-year-old in his second training session on Thursday.
"I challenged him! Yesterday," Pochettino said. "We were playing in a box and he was inside and the ball was in the air and me -- bam! -- and he fell, and me with the ball!
"He is so aggressive, so fast, and he loves to play with risk at his back," added Pochettino, referring to Sanchez's ability to play in a high defensive line.
"He wanted to move and to play for Tottenham. Davinson is with us because a lot of clubs were interested in him but he decided to join us. He's young, but he won the Copa Libertadores with his team [Atletico Nacional] in Colombia. And played regularly for Ajax, played the Europa League final against Manchester United.
"He's young but with an amazing history and background. I like his personality and how he is aggressive, he is fast. He will fit for us very well.
"I moved [to Europe] with my wife," he added. "We were not scared, but you are waiting because you don't know. From America, you come to Europe -- you don't know what you will find here. First of all, it is to adapt.
"But he's unbelievable: He speaks very well English, and from day one when he arrived I think he is like all the players here. Yes, he is very welcome with the teammates and he is one of us."
Pochettino added that Sanchez's arrival had nothing to do with the future of Toby Alderweireld, who is the only first-team regular at Tottenham who has not agreed a new contract in the past 18 months.
He insisted that Alderweireld is happy at Spurs and suggested that his new contract will be resolved after the transfer window closes on Thursday.
"It's not related," he said. "Today, I was talking for one hour with Toby. He is so happy here. The club now is so busy trying to add more quality to the team. It's true that Davinson is more competition for our centre-backs but it can only be good.
"No doubt, when the window finishes, Daniel will try to work and make happy every single player of the club."