Tottenham player has been accused of lacking ‘the right motivation’ out on loan

Napoli legend Francesco Montervino has criticised Tanguy Ndombele for his ten-minute cameo off the bench against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Ndombele has struggled to break into Napoli’s starting eleven since his loan move to the Serie A club last summer, being largely used as an impact substitute by Luciano Spalletti.

Although Napoli have the option to sign the Frenchman permanently for £30m at the end of the season, reports over recent weeks have indicated that the Serie A club are not likely to take up that option.

Area Napoli reported earlier this month that the 26-year-old seemed destined to return to Spurs while journalist Ciro Venerato told 1 Station Radio (as relayed by Forza Azzurri) that the midfielder will have to play out of his skin for the next few months to convince the Partenopei hang on to him.

Ndombele came on in the 80th minute for Frank Anguissa in Napoli’s 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Tuesday, and Montervino was far from pleased with the on-loan Spurs man’s effort.

When asked about the former Lyon man’s performance in Germany, the 44-year-old, who has worked as a sporting director since hanging up his boots in 2014, told Tutto Napoli: “I didn’t like it very much. It seems to me, as they say in Naples, that he entered without genius. 

“If he wants to, he doesn’t need to be introduced, he’s strong, but with Eintracht, he didn’t seem to be present. He has to have the right motivation.”

Spurs Web Opinion

This assessment of Ndombele as not lacking in ability but lacking the desire to make the most of his talent has been a constant theme throughout his career.

Unfortunately, it seems like the Frenchman’s career might head the same way as Dele Alli’s over the next year or two.

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