Report: £16.5m Spurs player spoke back to Conte who shouted at him v United

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It takes a brave player to talk back to Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte.

The Italian is a very no-nonsense sort of figure and one who commands fear and respect in equal measure.

If he gives you a telling-off, it’s probably best to simply swallow your pride and take it on the chin.

But Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur did ‘fire back’ at the Spurs manager during Manchester United’s win over the North Londoners on Wednesday night.

According to Football London, the Uruguay international incurred the wrath of Conte at one point during the 2-0 defeat.

And the report claims that Bentancur – who joined the Lilywhites from Juventus for £16.5 million in January [The Athletic] – spoke back to his coach.

The 25-year-old was operating in a slightly more advanced midfield role at Old Trafford and Conte was seemingly furious that the South American lost possession on the cheap.

However, the Tottenham coach will probably respect his player’s passion.

Responding the way that he reportedly did demonstrates that Bentancur cares and that, above all, is what Conte demands from his players, enthusiasm.

It was a bitterly disappointing night for the Lilywhites who could and would have been hammered by a far greater margin if not for Hugo Lloris, who produced a number of exceptional saves.