"Thomas Frank receives a mournful missive from Harry Kane, disheartened by Tottenham Hotspur's exclusion from the Champions League"

Tottenham Hotspur's New Signing Mathys Tel Excluded from Champions League Squad

Mathys Tel, the French forward who recently completed a £30m permanent move to Tottenham Hotspur from Bayern Munich, has been left out of the club's Champions League squad for the 2025 season. This unexpected decision, confirmed last week, has been met with disappointment from Tel, but he remains positive and determined to prove himself in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur is participating in the Champions League for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign. The draw for their matches included home games against Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal, and away games against Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco. However, six first-team players, including Tel, were forced to be omitted from the European squad.

The reasons for Tel's exclusion are seen as circumstances rather than a lack of belief in his ability. Kota Takai and Yves Bissouma, among others, also did not make the cut. Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin, who were expected to return before the end of the league phase, were also left out. The absence of James Maddison due to his ACL injury is another notable omission.

Tel, currently on international duty with France under-21s, has been discussing his exclusion from the Champions League squad. He told La Telegramme that he would have liked to be part of the squad but respects the coach's decision. He remains optimistic, viewing this as a test of his character as he looks to make an impact in the Premier League.

In a move that could bolster their attack, Tottenham Hotspur signed Randal Kolo Muani on loan from PSG on deadline day. Thomas Frank, the boss of Tottenham Hotspur, will now have a variety of options to choose from as he navigates the challenging Champions League group stage.

Transfermarkt values Tel at €35m, reflecting the high regard in which he is held. Despite the setback of not being included in the Champions League squad, Tel is determined to make his mark at Tottenham Hotspur and live up to the potential that saw him move from Bayern Munich to the London club.