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‘Best in the world’: Player lauds Tottenham months after leaving

Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
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ENFIELD, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur during the Tottenham Hotspur training session at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on April 23, 2021 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images

Toby Alderweireld has labelled Tottenham as the ‘best in the world’, as he told Al-Duhail’s Instagram account.

The 32-year-old is now plying his footballing trade in the lesser-known environment of Qatar’s top-tier.

In the summer, with his contract expiring, the Belgian opted to leave Spurs on a free transfer and begin the final steps of his career.

During this time in north London, Alderweireld was a popular player with supporters and one of the most underrated players to have put on the Spurs shirt.

Nonetheless, Alderweireld was speaking about moving to Al-Duhail and being ‘spoilt’ because of where he came from.

“I come from the top, top league in the world,” said Alderweireld.

“For example, Spurs, they are the best in the world, so I was a little bit spoilt in that manner.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur applaud the fans with team mates during a lap of honour following the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 19, 2021 in London, England. A limited number of fans will be allowed into Premier League stadiums as Coronavirus restrictions begin to ease in the UK. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images

There would have been some Spurs fans who would have preferred Alderweireld to stay on their books beyond the summer.

It would have been interesting to see how a man of his experience would have faired under the stewardship of Antonio Conte.

But he decided to move to Qatar and take a different road than his partner in crime, Jan Vertonghen.

The left-footed centre-back left Spurs 12 months before his fellow countryman and decided to join Benfica where is now competing in the Champions League.

There’s no doubt that Alderweireld still has the quality to compete at that level, but he was clearly comfortable in going down a different route.