Toby Alderweireld has claimed that he never thought of leaving Tottenham Hotspur during his contract saga.
The Belgian defender committed his future to the Champions League finalists last week when he penned a new contract until 2023.
The 30-year-old’s future had been uncertain for the past two years which saw Spurs trigger a one-year contract extension last January to keep him at the club, but it activated a £25million release clause (Sky Sports).
Thankfully, no club managed to take the former Ajax defender away on a cut-price deal and it looked as if he could walk away as a free agent at the end of the current campaign.
Alderweireld has now revealed that it was not a difficult decision to remain in North London and also highlighted his excellent relationship with the supporters as one of the primary factors.
He also credited new head coach Jose Mourinho in playing a part in his decision making.
Alderweireld told the Evening Standard: “I understand the questions were there but I never thought about leaving,”
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“I don’t like to talk about myself but the only thing I can say about myself is that every game I do everything on the pitch that I can. Everything. I think that’s why maybe we have a good connection, the fans and me. I’m very happy and it was always in my mind to stay. It’s easy to talk now like this after I signed a deal but hand on my heart it’s true.
“Of course [Mourinho] is an influence but in a decision like this there’s a lot of things to consider. You talk with your family, of course my wife. I’m 30, you think, ‘Do I want something else?’ The more I was thinking, ‘What am I going to do?’ the more my decision went towards Spurs. At the end, it was not a difficult decision.
“The connection with the fans was a big factor, big factor. From day one, it’s a cliche but I felt home, I felt good. I think they appreciate what I’ve done for the club and I just want to pay them back with loyalty and with good performances in the next couple of seasons.”
He added, “There’s a lot of things: family, how I feel about the club, the fans, how I am with the manager. Of course, there’s a financial part as well, so it’s all small parts that make your decision. I know I can get maybe a different deal somewhere else but I chose loyalty, Spurs and football.”
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