Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott has been tipped as a player Tottenham may have been wrong to let go after developing into an impressive goalscorer since leaving the club.
Parrott remained on Tottenham’s books until he completed a permanent transfer to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in 2024. The move proved highly successful, with the forward scoring 51 goals in 97 appearances.
His form eventually earned him a £17 million move to La Liga side Real Betis during the summer.
Parrott quickly became a favourite among Betis supporters after coming off the bench to score the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid last month.
He then attracted even more attention in midweek by scoring a stunning goal for Ireland in their 2-2 Nations League draw with Austria.
At the same time, Tottenham have struggled badly in front of goal this season. Roberto De Zerbi’s side have scored just twice in five Premier League matches, with Dominic Solanke struggling for form and Richarlison currently out of favour.
TalkSPORT pundits Rory Jennings and Ade Oladipo discussed whether Spurs made a mistake by allowing Parrott to leave following Harry Kane’s departure in 2023. Both suggested that the young striker could have been given enough time by Tottenham supporters to develop into a regular first-choice forward.
Jennings argued that Spurs fans would likely have been more patient with a homegrown player and would have accepted his mistakes while he learned.
He suggested that Parrott could have been given the opportunity to develop without facing the same pressure currently placed on more established players such as Richarlison.
Oladipo agreed, pointing out that supporters often have greater patience with academy graduates. He also claimed that Richarlison is not particularly popular among Spurs fans.
The discussion continued on Saturday morning, when former Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino offered his view on why Tottenham eventually allowed Parrott to leave.
Cascarino explained that after Kane moved to Bayern Munich in 2023, Parrott spent time on loan at Excelsior in the Netherlands, where he scored 10 goals in 25 appearances.
He then joined AZ Alkmaar permanently, but Tottenham decided against bringing him back.
Cascarino recalled that Jose Mourinho had previously questioned whether Parrott was good enough when the striker was around 18, although he acknowledged that the forward has improved dramatically since then.
He praised Parrott’s spectacular goal for Ireland in midweek, describing it as the best goal he had ever seen from an Irish player.
Cascarino also highlighted Parrott’s improved confidence, fitness and overall development, noting that he is now 24 and still has plenty of time to establish himself at the highest level.
He compared Parrott’s situation with that of Will Lankshear, who has also left Tottenham temporarily to gain regular playing time and prove himself.
The former Ireland striker suggested that while young players may not always be ready for the Premier League immediately, giving them the opportunity to play regularly can help them develop and eventually show what they are capable of.
