Ruiz: I wanted to join Spurs, not Fulham

Bryan Ruiz has embarrassed Fulham by saying he wanted to join Spurs instead - and admitting he only went to Craven Cottage for the money.

The £10.6m Costa Rica international's ill-advised claims come days after he completed his first full 90 minutes for the Premier League side in Monday's win over Liverpool, for which he was praised by manager Martin Jol.

Ruiz told Dutch magazine Voetbal International: "I did not want Fulham. Previously Tottenham interested. This is a club that you say 'yes' to. But it was never real.

"On August 30 Fulham arrived in the bidding. My manager called and said there was an agreement between the clubs and that we were going to London. I hesitated again, but he convinced me.

"Attractive financial terms and a conversation with Martin Jol won me over."

Ruiz, subbed during a poor debut against Blackburn, has fought his way back into Fulham's first team of late and after the Liverpool victory Jol beamed: "Bryan's a quality player. It's a different style he used to play in Holland. He's got more time, he's got vision, he wants to play the killer ball and I think it's the quality you need.

"We have to adapt to him and he has to adapt to English football. I started him against Arsenal and on the ball, he's good. He can make a difference."