“They’re all happy for me” – Former Spur admits it was tough to leave earlier this year

Kyle Walker-Peter has admitted that leaving Tottenham Hotspur was a difficult decision for him but one that he had to make for the sake of his career.

The Spurs academy graduate has represented the Lilywhites through various age groups and was thought of as a potential first-team regular while coming through the ranks at the club.

However, he could not quite get a regular run in the side under Mauricio Pochettino, being restricted to just a handful of appearances.

After a successful loan spell at Southampton in the second half of last season, the Saints paid £12m to make his move from Spurs permanent in the summer.

The right-back has certainly proven his quality since his summer switch to the south coast and revealed last week that he is enjoying his football under Ralph Hasenhuttl.

However, he has now admitted that he will always be thankful to Tottenham and that he still keeps in touch with his former teammates.

Walker-Peters told The Guardian: “It was tough leaving Tottenham. I was training and playing with some of the best players in the world.

“I got to play in the Champions League. But I was at a stage in my career where I needed to show everyone what I can do.

“I’m still in contact with all my mates there. I talk to Dele [Alli] every day. And they’re all happy for me.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Southampton was the perfect move for Walker-Peters as his game is perfectly suited to the high-energy, front footed approach that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men employ. For all of the positive contributions that Pochettino made in helping develop young players, perhaps the one mistake he made was not handing Walker-Peters more opportunities.

Given the way the former Spurs boss improved the likes of Rose and Walker, and the similarities between Southampton’s current style of play and the one we employed under Pochettino, perhaps Walker-Peters could have thrived had he got a consistent run in the side.

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