Alasdair Gold reveals gesture from one of the nicest players at Tottenham

Football.London’s Alasdair Gold has claimed that Ben Davies is the most polite player in the Tottenham squad and revealed the Welshman’s touching gesture to him in Israel.

Davies did fly with the Tottenham squad to Israel for their pre-season friendly against Roma but played no part in the game, with Davinson Sanchez playing as the left centre-back in the first half and new signing Clement Lenglet filling that role after the interval.

Antonio Conte admitted in his post-match press conference (Football.London) that although the 29-year-old had recovered from his injury, he did not want to risk him against Roma to ensure the defender had a chance to be fully fit for Spurs’ opener against Southampton.

Davies, who signed a new contract with Tottenham until 2025 last week, will look to carry on from where he left on last season, with the former Swansea man being one the club’s most consistent performers since Conte arrived through the door.

Gold has now revealed that off the pitch, the Wales international is the most polite player in the Tottenham squad.

The journalist explained how Davies came over to him and Tom Barclay following the clash against Roma in Haifa to wish them a safe trip back to the UK.

Gold wrote: “As we waited, we began to play a little game among us as a pair – guessing which Spurs players and staff would look up and politely say goodbye as they left and which ones wouldn’t. It was a daft little thing to keep us amused while we waited between interviews.

“Many did say farewell and wished us a safe flight home, including the chairman Daniel Levy, perhaps recognising our weary faces from putting in the miles following the team around the world this summer.

“Some players did keep their heads down, perfectly understandable with two journalists there and the fear that they might get collared for a midnight interview. They wouldn’t have, but they weren’t to know that.

“Then there were the ultra polite ones, including Conte and the new signings we had just interviewed, including Yves Bissouma, Djed Spence and Clement Lenglet, who had only minutes before apologised for his poor English only to produce an insightful interview which proved it was anything but.

“Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was a charismatic presence throughout the trip, friendly to everyone he met in the team hotel in Tel Aviv, and even after his no doubt knackering first 90 minutes of the season, he was there with a big grin in our direction, wishing us well on our travels home.

“Then there was Ben Davies. You will never hear anyone who has met him say a bad word about the Welshman. He’s a tough tackler on the pitch, but off of it, he might just qualify for ‘the nicest man in football’ tag.

“Every manager Davies has had raves about his work and importance on the pitch but also his qualities as a person off of it in the dressing room and beyond.

“So, of course, as we predicted, when Davies walked through the centre of the wide tunnel, he was also going to do that little bit more, veering over to ask us when we were flying back to England, how we had found Israel and wishing us a good journey home.

“It might seem the daftest little insight among all the many things that can happen in football, but sometimes it’s just nice to acknowledge good people.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Davies certainly comes as an extremely humble and polite guy during his interviews, and this anecdote from Gold confirms that.

Conte certainly seems to have taken to the 29-year-old and I would not be surprised if the Welshman continues to be the Italian’s first choice at left wing-back ahead of Lenglet.

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