Jermain Defoe on transfer request regret, picking Tottenham over Juventus & his best strike partner

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Join us for the latest episode of the Transfer Talk Podcast, as we speak to Jermain Defoe about:
02:06 First conversation with Harry Redknapp and working with childhood idol, Ian Wright
11:33 Relegation with West Ham and handing in a transfer request
17:14 Being lured to Tottenham and interest from Chelsea
20:34 The story of ‘Lasagne-Gate’
22:42 The arrival of Dimitar Berbatov and playing alongside him and Robbie Keane
24:56 Why he left Tottenham to link up again with Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth
27:35 Return to Tottenham and rejecting chance to join Juventus
32:19 Why Peter Crouch was his best strike partner and departure of Harry Redknapp
36:22 The move to the MLS with Toronto and return to the Premier League
41:32 The Rangers legend that convinced him to join the club
The recording of this episode took place in October 2019.
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[@amselite11tv]

An absolute travesty and a disgrace he didn't make the 2006 WC Squad and instead picking Walcott.

[@JordanSmith-tl4pu]

As an Arsenal fan I agree. He really should've gone instead especially as Walcott didn't even get a chance to play and was imo too young.

[@markmcmullan3351]

Someone had to say it. Totally agree.

[@tonyhew8482]

Always rated Jermaine Defoe quality player. Could have done well in the 06 world cup for England.

[@Pringy]

@Hms I know, it pains me that it is the club I love paying him those wages

[@5thdawg917]

2014 As well. He was still banging them in. His like the English Di Natalie.

[@OGustus]

Sky, please keep this series going. Amazing interviews.

[@Adam-su1ex]

Most underrated finisher in the prem

[@sghfvkhcvjh3724]

And most overrated finisher in spfl

[@rickylovesyou]

Dont be daft. You dont play for Spurs if you are underrated. Smh.

[@stevenebirim921]

@@rickylovesyou Tottenham were a dead back then when Defoe was their so he was the most underrated finisher in the prem

[@contagionmoviepredictscoro827]

Jesus Cried out in a loud voice,.. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ...Matthe.w. 2 7 : 4 6 This was suppose to be the Moment Jesus so called willingly Died For Our Sins ✝️ 😰 🔨 🤣🤣🤣 🤔 l swear if Jesus had a mobile in His hands, He Would of dialed 📞 9 9 9

[@chwestfield]

He scored one goal after the other into the far corner for me in Fifa 12 - great man.

[@ZeroTheHeroGOAT]

Amazing Defoe. I'm too old to have "favorite player" anymore, but I was young enough when I picked Defoe. So he'll be my last favorite player, lol. A great striker, nice character and a joy to watch playing football. Thanks for the time with Spurs, Jermain Defoe. In my book you're a living legend.

[@grantburrell]

Up there with the greatest finishers this country has seen.

[@leehackett1614]

This guy singlehandedly kept Sunderland up. For 2 straight years! He was an amazing goalscorer. Should have gone to a better team during them years

[@20times67]

Lee Hackett he’s a gunman. Could score any type of goal & even created his own chances often enough.

[@TEAMRHFITNESSYT]

al never forget that chelsea game mate, when he scored the place fkin erupted :D

[@philk1853]

Speaking as a Newcastle fan, I like Defoe. Decent bloke.

[@childofchief2290]

he literally doesn't have a bad word to say about anyone. Even when so many managers underestimated his ability.

[@futurescotsreloaded3716]

Defoe knows his stuff - Dapo Mebude is a huge talent.

[@peenwhy835]

My mum used to work for JD. I met him many times and went to a few of his house parties - he was always very generous and he has given me many Christmas presents, players football shirts and other things, even though I am an Arsenal fan, I have always thought he was a top dude and one of my favourite players and first picks in the dream team. I will be sad when he retires.

[@thegreatguy3829]

Yeah same, I also met Ronaldo when I was ordering a foot long in Subway. Nice bloke.

[@am5790]

@@thegreatguy3829 lol bad boy

[@andisadler2897]

Yeh man i was at this music concert and Lionel Messi was there in the next toilet cubicle to me. I said " Is that you Lionel" he replied "Yeh Andi". I then asked " When you going to sign for Chelsea?" He replied "Never" so i headbutted him and left him with pants down covered in piss.

[@ryanpresley2937]

@@andisadler2897 yeah I saw that! Damm you hit him hard! I was actually walking with zlatan at the time, he was talking about coming to west ham as it had been a dream of his to play with mark noble - nice guy

[@andisadler2897]

@@ryanpresley2937 my man Elvis!

[@shmmazz]

Love you Jermain! Scored on my first match at White Hart Lane in 2005. Will always be a special player to me. Tottenham legend who was there before the Poch revolution and took us to the Champions League for the first time.

[@ros-spur98]

Superb player, one of the all time greats for Spurs. Wishing you well for the future, thanks Jermain.

[@leeakers1370]

Never won anything whilst he was with you did he, all time greats 😂

[@8sidewayz602]

Lee akers what have you ever won??????????

[@leeakers1370]

8 sidewayz The same as Jermaine Defoe and I’m not a pro footballer.

[@8sidewayz602]

@@leeakers1370 haha that's actually true 😂😂😂

[@Table-Top]

Top professional. I wish every player who came to Sunderland was as professional as him. We wouldn't be in the 3rd tier if we had players of the same mentality as him.

[@richardcrawford1859]

Darren bent doesn’t even butter the same bread as Jermaine Defoe

[@wayneronaldo7679]

Top striker. Proper goalscorer. Deserved a club that could of got him trophies. Still had a good career. PL Legend

[@CP-zf9tq]

Absolutely clinical striker England should’ve used him more in big competitions but they had their favourites ofc

[@watchthis121]

Edge of the box on the turn.... That dipping low finish,..... DEFOEEEEEEE!

[@alpacaslapper282]

Would still take Defo back to Spurs now .

They've needed a good backup striker for kane for years now

[@mrbennett3791]

You ain’t getting him, he’s happy here in Glasgow don’t put thoughts in his head 😂

[@joeyeleven8997]

Great professional... I always wanted him at Everton...👍

[@luxorora5370]

Met him in ‘05 when he came down to our local pitch in Kidbrooke SE London. He played with us for a few mins….tried to use the ronaldinho flip-flap against him lol…..humble lad tho…..

[@JakeBayley]

At 0:32 you can hear homes under the hammer blasting out of his tv

[@ay613]

Lol u cam never get enough of Dion dublin

[@tramlad2]

Smashing lad, who really knows how blessed he is, always a goalscorer, so glad he is at Rangers , love the man

[@ianwilliams4516]

Top 10 favorite premier league strikers I’ve ever watched..always had the best attitude and was so fun and underrated I’m his prime

[@aaronlatham4822]

Always baffled me that he never played for a top side, hardworking consistent player and seems a decent bloke too

[@am5790]

a proper gentleman...not a bad word about anyone.

[@lucatbk7]

Incredibly under rated. What a finisher, only needed 1 chance.

[@medatewolde]

Great player, above all humble man

[@fredthered73]

this is a football role model for me, never done anything but work has hard as he can for the fans

[@googlereviewer1944]

Amazing striker over the course of his career. Scored goals everywhere he went.

[@benleno]

Great interview with a great guy

[@breenirwin2356]

Juventus would have been a great move for him ? I wonder if he regrets it ? If defo was at a title challenging team at the time there's no doubt he'd have won alot.

[@breenirwin2356]

@TASK FORCE KNIGHT I have but deep down he knows if he chose different clubs over the ones he did he knows he would have won alot more silverware

[@rajyt4888]

@@breenirwin2356 Yh but he wouldnt have excelled due to the fact these are all star teams. He would probably have been surplus to requirements

[@breenirwin2356]

@@rajyt4888 It all would have depended on how well the so called super club were doing at that time. He was a good and upcoming player at the time. I feel like a move to utd or Juventus would have put him on a elite level chap has ice through his veins cold ❄❄

[@Rapanior]

Raj he would have been a fringe player minimum.

[@breenirwin2356]

@@Rapanior At first probably but given time might have excelled If at an Top English side atm would have no doubt got his game eventually

[@mrade5321]

JD is just an outstanding human being. I love the guy. I WANT A GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL, FROM JERMAIN DEFOE ❤️

[@addictedtoyoutube2320]

Love this man🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@samueljamouneau]

My favourite player when he was at spurs

[@CJ0101]

"I feel like Peter Pan". Good answer, man :)

[@zballer45j15]

JD swinging his legs while talking is so funny and adorable

[@JPayne95]

Reminds me of Kevin hart

[@GamingRobioto]

Write the theme tune, sing the theme tune

[@MrSydneyGeary]

What a great interview

[@wythenshawekid1597]

Yesss jermaine ..top notch forward mate

[@billy6243]

Great podcast To be honest:)

[@truebro77]

So good he's with us at Rangers now. Just a lethal finisher, one of the best I have ever seen.

[@gregzy69]

The Scottish English Teacher don’t talk shite ya big orange spastic

[@kmcc6814]

@@gregzy69 hail hail

[@stewart5160]

Gregzy that reply is Embarrassing!

[@truebro77]

@@stewart5160 Really, really embarrassing mate. Simple comment responded like that, how immature and vile can a person be?

[@gregzy69]

Just the fact your in denial or clearly delusional if you think defoe is the best finisher you’ve ever seen haha! Usual from a hun

[@rossm685]

What a coup to get a top player of this caliber at rangers !! watched this guy in the prem for seasons finishing is top drawer , work rate class , great wee striker .

[@EMINEM4973]

So glad to have you at Rangers Defoe, top professional and a humble guy.

[@mooreso2001]

thats another regret he`ll have playing for Rangers mate.....:-D

[@rdawdon]

One of the greatest striker to ever played the game if not the greatest...Jermaine Defoe used to score goals for fun .

[@altruistic3276]

He's one of. Not the greatest. To be the greatest, you have to be a winner

[@mannydosu2657]

Certified legend

[@unoriginalog836]

Awesome guy

[@ismaildad9727]

Super sharp finisher. JD would’ve been up there with Shearer PL stats had he signed for Man Utd or Chelsea.

[@Socman-fu1gs]

one of my favourite strikers ever.. he used to pick the bottom corner for fun

[@nigefal]

I think these interviews are the best things Sky Sports have done. And I would be a critic of SKY ignoring football prior to 1992, cliches and bland interviews. But these ones are great. I think it helps that the players are relaxed at home no pressure, and can talk naturally.

[@JPayne95]

I met him during the riots in London he was with a bird going into a bar/restaurant in Woodford, stopped and spoke to us for a cple mins. Good guy.

[@DonDadaDiamond]

Top top Bloke, fantastic player

[@lyell2695]

As an Arsenal fan I always respected Defoe. Great player.

[@ajja1442]

Would have been good at Arsenal

[@anthonywillcock9947]

Sunderland legend unreal guy

[@VinylLondon]

He missed out on massive clubs . Spurs didn’t treat him right and England was a joke not making him a regular

[@dylanferguson8532]

"yeah, defoes a great player, but pogba should be doing more" - graeme souness

[@aktar86]

Loooool typical Souness

[@dylanferguson8532]

Aye first man to hear about George weahs cousin

[@janettejamieson7372]

Our fans never did forgive Jermain for leaving West Ham but you could certainly understand him wanting to play Premier League football.

[@damiantosd8720]

Pure goal machine. Seems like a good bloke too.

[@robertdeniro19]

Give Harry Redknapp stability and a moderate but adequate budget, we would be looking at a very successful manager in terms of silverware.

[@aaron_p12]

Defoe on my chest ~ spurs fan

[@Quincy82AAC]

Jermain Defoe is wicked footballer and I am a Arsenal fan.

[@DJHD85]

Jermaine really needs to change the batteries in his smoke alarm

[@lifewithdylan]

I saw jermain defo in primark once

[@battlep0t]

Can anyone else hear someone watching Homes under the Hammer in the background?

[@elliottgoodall9467]

Jermain "scored a lot of goals" Defoe. What. A. Player

[@everythingarsenaltv]

He was elite

[@topboy6287]

I would of told levy to do one!!! Defo was still in his prime then. Levy sold him the dream to benifit himself again

[@worlboss4224]

Top notch footballer and goal scorer. Could never understand why he didn’t play more for Tottenham or England....

[@user-ls1do9ld2r]

Same here. I don't understand it. What was Sven's thought process? I'd love to know

[@coachhbosoccer]

one of the most unappreciated English forwards in the Premier League era. I would have liked him to have played earlier in a good club overseas like Germany or Spain

[@5thdawg917]

As a Chelsea fan, i use to be nervous when we played them becsuse they had him and Robbie keane.

[@JordanSmith-tl4pu]

As an Arsenal fan I would've loved JD to have been the guy to replace Henry after he left or after Eduardo's horrible injury in 09. I think he could've been the next Ian Wright. Didn't happen unfortunately but JD was a qaulity and underrated striker. Really should've played more for England especially in the 2010 wc.

[@altruistic3276]

You're ungrateful. You had Robin freaking Van Persie but you still wanted Defoe smh

[@JordanSmith-tl4pu]

@@altruistic3276 how is ungrateful to want more than one top striker playing for your club? Stupid comment really 😩 yea and RVP was always injured.

[@altruistic3276]

@@JordanSmith-tl4pu You had RVP, Eduardo, Adebayor, Bendtner, Vela. Use your common sense.

[@RikuWolf23]

Was a solid pick on fifa for years too :D

[@technologylover121]

One of the best goal scores of all time in the prem

[@bored742]

This guy is great off the pitch aswell with the Sunderland lad bradley what a gem this guy is other players should be looking up to Defoe Everything happens for a reason that's why he didn't join juventus I believe

[@jonathanwaters1847]

Spurs legend

[@aaront9778]

top striker

[@plumanuspranks4899]

I'm a spurs fan so obviously I love JD but do West Ham fans forgive him now? He was great at WHU but there's a big rivalry there

[@tsrgoinc]

No we don’t, going to you lot was only part of the problem. Look he knew exactly what he was doing, from getting himself deliberately sent off to the transfer request. I knew what transfer requests were by the age of 5 and he was 19. Most West Ham fans like myself would not piss in the blokes pockets if his gonands were ablaze!

[@jayheron6064]

Hearing him say he was getting tips from Ian Wright, I always saw him as his reincarnation.

[@Ackky1]

Wish liverpool came in for JD after Suarez left. Him, sturridge and sterling would have been solid. He was brilliant at Sunderland tho tbf. Always highly rated him.

[@jnd933]

hows he allowed to go back to chigwell when hes playing in scotland?

[@matthewdolan8804]

Because this virus is a myth and he’s not controlled.

[@muntari82]

I played against Defoe on his Debut I think we won 2-0 a young lad named Lionel Morgan scored 2 it was actually at Kingston University sports pitch where we used to train, I didn't know what the fuss was as I marked him out of the game and we even had a little face to face but seriously Speaking Jermaine u were world class and I never made it but that's my claim to fame. COYS

[@robhoopz]

0:42 - Does Defoe have statues of people in the background? 🤨😂

[@am5790]

yes, jazz musician figures.

[@tomwadeson2495]

I would have loved him as an option at Man United back in the day.

[@technologylover121]

They should do one with crouch

[@r1ckyr0zay9]

480p max quality? Budget cuts already lol

[@TR0J3NH0R5E]

Lolz. To be fair the quality looks like 720p

[@Mozzerini]

Is it just me that can hear a smoke alarm chirping in the background every so often?

[@alanreid7145]

Thought that was coming from my own house 😅

[@sTreek90]

Imagine picking spurs over Juve

[@007Fusiion]

Anthony An Englishman would

[@rajyt4888]

Its better because going to a bigger club would mean he would be backup due to the fact there are big stars there already.

[@altruistic3276]

He made the right choice. Players need to think twice, especially as good as he was, before leaving England to play abroad

[@sTreek90]

John Kimmel no

[@sTreek90]

Raj not necessarily

[@avonbarksdale990]

prem legend

[@SonnyK248]

Joe Cole and Defoe had great careers. But you kind of feel like they had more to give than they did. I think under Harry at West Ham they could have developed into proper superstars. Cole couldn't show everything he had under Mourinho and Defoe rarely got to be the main man on a team. When he did he crushed it every time. Most of those times were under Harry.

[@user-ls1do9ld2r]

Very true. They both went on to become famous and become very wealthy, but you get the feeling that they had more the locker. But it is important to have someone who believes 100% in you

[@SonnyK248]

@@user-ls1do9ld2r When Cole was a kid I think people thought he'd go on to win a balon do'r he was that good. I remember United bidding ten million for him when he was 16. This was in 97 so he would have been their record signing at the time which is insane! But that's how highly thought of he was back then. He had true world class technical ability that only a few English players have ever had. Maybe Hoddle, Barnes and Gazza are the only ones who've been at that level. He was seen as the heir to Gazza at the time which is why I think Fergie wanted him because he missed out on that talent the first time. But the late 90's early 2000's was the 4 4 2 era which didn't flatter a true number ten like Cole. You had to be either a traditional winger or a box to box midfielder to play in a Premier League team back then. Imagine him today! He's have an unbelievably better career if he broke in now at 17.

[@ChadPlainview_]

Daniel Levy sells Defoe, Keane and Berbatov within a 8 month period. Then has to ask the players why the teams struggling. Brilliant.

[@xdgamesCoUk]

To be fair Defoe clearly states in this interview that they didn't actually want to sell him, the manager at the time pushed for it. Berba forced a move by straight up refusing to play (its water under the bridge now but it seems people have forgotten about how Berba behaved to force that move to united) .... and Keane was similar, I don't think there were reports of him refusing to play, but he pushed to leave and go to Liverpool. It's not like Spurs were happily looking to sell all of their strikers.

[@ChadPlainview_]

@@xdgamesCoUk Yeah all true mate, I just don't think Daniel needed to ask such an obvious question when Bent, Pav and Frazier Campbell (yes did we forget him?) wasn't scoring goals. Keane was a shock. But I always felt Berbatov was destined to leave that summer. Thank god Harry came to the club.

[@uzairdakri880]

11:01 time stamp for myself

[@MFC343]

30.00 mins in he starts speaking about Juventus.

[@bennib5]

can't believe he turned down juventus

[@YoungSoprano90]

Such a good player, he would have been great at Chels and would have won A LOT of silverware, unfortunately for him Tottenham have a tendency to bottle competitions and leagues etc

[@sicko1979]

🖕🏼

[@YoungSoprano90]

sick o - I mean, you’re not disagreeing with me are you lol

[@pentz1]

The way he was treated by Erickson was disrespectful. He had more to his game than Owen ever did

[@thunderjoy7250]

West ham fan here..do gutted he didn't come back to us .fantastic movement and finisher

[@tsrgoinc]

You’re no West Ham fan! You might go, you might have a shirt, don’t make you West Ham!

[@waynemarshall8836]

Ian Wright clone but quicker. Always wanted him at Arsenal, but we had Henry

[@mrbennett3791]

Been a good addition to Rangers squad just wish he could play more often

[@theosantana7750]

I'd take Defoe all day everyday over Kane.

[@TwistedSoul2002]

Arsenal fan here- have to admit he’s a quality player and has shown everyone he’s an even better man. I remember in 2004, Man Utd signed Louis Saha, we signed José Antonio Reyes (rip) and Spurs signed Defoe. I always thought he was the best out of the lot of them.

[@pixuull]

TwistedSouL Defoe was brilliant!

[@everythingarsenaltv]

Goal Scorer!! 🔥

[@007Fusiion]

I thought it was Reyes initially.

[@altruistic3276]

He was the best out of the three, but Saha was lethal

[@nickcockayne7880]

I’ve no doubt Jermain was young at the time and regrets it but it’s not just the transfer request West Ham fans were/are upset with it was the fact that he spent the whole time the start of the next season trying to get sent off and putting in next to no effort in order to force his move.

[@andrewgemmell3241]

Where are the clubs getting the money from? As most are saying lockdown I'd having negative effect on earnings.

[@007Fusiion]

Andrew Gemmell They have savings

[@andrewgemmell3241]

@@007Fusiion I just wondered because afew clubs have said they will have to sell players to afford their wage bills decent players too lol