Emerson Royal's desperation to prove himself to Antonio Conte has reportedly seen him spend £800,000 on trying to become a better player for Tottenham. 

The 23-year-old joined Spurs in 2021 for a fee of £25million but initially failed to impress Conte, with The Times reporting in January that Conte thought the wing-back 'did not fit the bill' moving forward. 

But Royal has taken steps to improve his game away from the training ground and, according to The Sun, has purchased his own hyperbaric oxygen tank to help keep his fitness levels up.

Emerson Royal (right) has 'spent £1m to improve his game in bid to impress Antonio Conte'

The Spurs wing-back also reportedly commissioned a scouting report of Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, who flourished under Conte's system at Inter Milan, scoring seven goals in just 45 games for the Nerazzurri. 

The report goes on to claim that Royal and his managerial team, which is headed by his dad, also hired a neuroscientist to help him manage the intense pressures of playing in the Premier League.

His dedication and steps to improve himself as a player seems to be working, with Royal cementing the right back position for Tottenham this season, featuring in every game so far, registering one assist. 

Many Tottenham fans have criticised the 23-year-old for his lack of attacking threat, with Royal yielding just one goal and assist in 41 appearances for Spurs last season. 

But Spurs manager Conte recently voiced his admiration of the Brazilian, saying earlier this month that he was 'really happy with' Royal and that he was impressed with his work ethic, adding that 'he has improved a lot since last season.' 

Much of that could be down to the work he has done reportedly studying Hakimi, who is widely viewed as one of the best defenders in European football.

Royal was set to be the replacement for the Moroccan before he left the Nerazzurri for Paris, which may be why he was drafted to the London side by Conte in 2021. 

Interestingly it was his dad, Emerson Zulu, who reportedly ordered the scout report to help his son study the PSG right back, who has two goals and two assists in 11 games for the Parisian club this season. 

The defender has also reportedly drafted in neuroscientist and human behaviour specialist Dr Fabiano de Abreu Agrela, who has previously worked with other professional footballers including one-time QPR loanee Eduardo Vargas.

Dr Abreu Agrela said that Royal was committed to improving and said that the defender had totally bought into his methods.  

Speaking to The Sun, Dr De Abreu said: 'He [Royal] is willing to do what it takes to give and be at his best.

'It's not easy for a player to leave a type of culture and expectations and go to the fastest and most demanding league on the planet. This adaptation plays with the mind.'