Spurs boss Villas-Boas plays down interest in 'special' Hulk

Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas has moved to play down speculation linking the club with a move for Hulk, while at the same admitting 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 insists that he was doing nothing of the sort, but he did express his admiration for the Selecao 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 boss earlier in the summer, led Porto to a treble during his one season at the Dragao, in 2010-11.

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