Villas-Boas denies move for ´special´ Hulk

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has played down speculation linking the club with a move for Hulk.

However, Villas-Boas did admit that he enjoys a ‘good relationship’ with the in-demand Porto forward.

The Portuguese coach paid his former charge a visit at Brazil’s Olympic Games base in St Albans ahead of their friendly with Team GB, immediately sparking speculation that he was sounding out the 25-year-old attacker about a move to White Hart Lane.

Villas-Boas said he was doing nothing of the sort, but he did express his admiration for the Brazil star.

“Hulk is a very special player for me,” the former Chelsea coach told Terra.

“We had a very good year together in Porto and we have a good relationship – that I do not deny.

“But we have just been talking, nothing more.”

Villas-Boas, who replaced Harry Redknapp as Spurs manager earlier in the summer, led Porto to a treble during his one season at the Dragao, in 2010-11.