Tottenham spent heavily rebuilding their midfield this summer, but one of the strangest decisions was made before the new campaign even began: allowing Joao Palhinha to return to Bayern Munich.

Palhinha was a rare bright spark during his loan spell. He brought something Spurs had desperately needed for years — aggression, positional discipline, physical presence and a genuine desire to win the ball back.

He was not perfect, and he was never going to become a long-term answer simply because he tackles hard. But his influence was obvious.

Palhinha finished the campaign with six Man of the Match awards, more than any other Spurs player.

Against Aston Villa in May, Palhinha formed an excellent midfield alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Conor Gallagher. He helped Spurs control the game and supplied the sort of intensity that had been missing for too much of the season.

Yet Tottenham decided not to activate the purchase option in his loan agreement. That decision looks particularly curious when the club then went into another major midfield rebuild.

New arrivals can absolutely improve the team. But squad building is not only about finding new players; it is also about recognising what you already have.

Palhinha has proven Premier League pedigree, understood Roberto De Zerbi’s demands and had shown that he could influence games. Letting him walk away meant Spurs had to replace qualities they already possessed.

Rodrigo Bentancur isn’t the player he was a few years ago before injuries took their toll, with Palhinha a more tenacious and hard-working option than the Uruguayan.

For a club that wants intensity and personality in the heart of their team, Tottenham allowing Palhinha to eventually join Benfica doesn’t make sense.