Kyle-Walker Peters has revealed that it was Dele Alli who convinced him to leave Tottenham Hotspur on loan in search of regular first-team football.
After starting the first three Premier League games of the season under Mauricio Pochettino, the youngster barely featured for the Lilywhites this campaign.
After the arrival of Jose Mourinho, it was clear that the youngster was not going to get much game time ahead of Serge Aurier.
He revealed that a phone call from manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was instrumental in his decision to move to Southampton on loan.
When asked why he chose to move to the south coast, Walker-Peters told the Daily Echo: [It was] The style of play and the manager.
“I spoke to him before I came, and he almost knew me better than I knew me which shows his interest in me.
“For him to take the time to call me was enough for me. I didn’t know he was picky so that makes me even happier.
MORE SPURS STORIES
“He knows what I’m good at and what type of player I am. I think his style compliments me.”
The defender opened up on how Alli told him that he needed to be playing regular football at his age.
He said: “He (Alli) always gives me advice, along with his brother.
“He made it clear to me that the most important thing for someone my age was to be playing games. I agree with him.”
The 22-year-old revealed that he still plays games online with the Spurs midfielder. Speaking about the pair’s relationship, he said: “I play with Dele a lot – he is a really close mate of mine.
“If I’m in London then I’m with Dele. It helps pass time, especially when you are in a hotel and you are just sat there bored.”
Finally, the England under-21 international also insisted that he might have got more game time at Spurs if Mauricio Pochettino hadn’t been replaced by Mourinho in November.
The full-back added: “I think Poch was a big part in helping me get my opportunity at Tottenham.
“It’s always sad to see someone like that go and, maybe, had he still been at Tottenham then I’d have had more opportunities to play.
“But I’m over that now. I’m here. And I’m enjoying myself a lot. I’m hoping to play as much as possible and fight for my spot in the team.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I don’t think Jose rates Walker-Peters and so I don’t think he has a future at Spurs even if he impresses at Southampton. I believe the club are likely to be in the market for a right-back in the summer and will probably hoping they can fetch a decent fee for Walker-Peters if he impresses on loan.
Keep up to date with all the latest Tottenham news and opinion by following SpursWeb’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
