The Tottenham hierarchy was reportedly left unimpressed with Antonio Conte’s public criticism of Tanguy Ndombele earlier this season, according to The Athletic.
Ndombele endured another difficult campaign at Spurs which led to his return to former club Lyon on a loan for the rest of the season in January.
The Ligue 1 side have the option to make the deal permanent, but it is expected that the 25-year-old will return to his parent club upon the loan’s conclusion (Evening Standard).
Ndombele’s move back to Lyon came with a subplot as Conte often suggested he needed to work harder and put the team first to see improvement on the pitch (The Guardian).
The Athletic have now revealed the Italian coach’s comments were said to have irritated Tottenham chiefs ahead of offloading the midfielder, knowing they needed to find suitors to take him away from North London.
Ndombele’s stint at Lyon has not panned out as Spurs will have wanted, with a lack of regularity in the team overshadowing his time in France.
He featured in the club’s Europa League quarter-final exit to West Ham but has struggled to end his campaign on a strong note (Transfermarkt).
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Conte simply said what most people were thinking about Ndombele, but they may have put some clubs off moving for him at the time in January.
But Spurs will likely have to deal with trying to offload him again when he returns this summer as Conte has found a team with balance that fits his style of management.
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