Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld responds to criticism that he does not speak up enough for Belgium.
Toby Alderweireld has responded to criticism that he is not enough of a leader in the Belgium dressing room.
The Tottenham Hotspur star was called out by Belgian FA relationship manager Pieter Maenhout, who told HLN: “Toby does have an opinion about the Red Devils, but he does not always feel the need to pronounce it.”
In an interview published yesterday, Alderweireld admitted that being vocal does not come naturally to him, but he has found his voice.
Speaking to HLN, Alderweireld said: “The two, three things that I say during a meeting, I do help, I think. It has already improved a lot, though – in the past I was even more introverted. I have to feel good in a company to assert myself.
“Here too, in the national team … I have to feel the respect of the group to say something. And that is what it is. I have proven business in my career, and I have reached an age when I am no longer considered a little boy.”
Alderweireld’s comments show that he is at a stage where he is settled in his career.
How this affects his Tottenham transfer status is unclear, as you could read it in two ways.
Either he would rather be in a comfortable environment where he wants to stay put and continue to grow, or the 29-year-old has reached a stage where he feels he needs to push himself and he is ready for new challenges.
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