Talks between Antonio Conte and Tottenham collapsed due to his reservations about their prospects of winning silverware while the club were concerned he wouldn’t provide youngsters with first-team opportunities.

The Italian, who usually demands a salary of £15m, hinted at the reasons why he didn’t take up the post but suggested that money was never an issue.

“The market sets the price. It is based on the results achieved and work done over the years,” Conte said in his interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

“If my problem or my obsession was money, I would have stayed where I was in the past. I would have accepted compromises and perhaps earned contract renewals.

“Instead I look at the projects and I am willing to stay at home if they do not convince me. It is a question of vision, professionalism, intellectual honesty and principles that cannot be ignored.”