Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that Moussa Sissoko is only still at Tottenham Hotspur because of a lack of offers for the un-wanted Frenchman, revealing he was the ‘first one’ who asked to leave this summer, yet no one appeared to want him.
The former NUFC midfielder is quite incredibly Spurs’ club record signing, joining the North London club for a whopping £30m in September last year.
Things haven’t went to plan for the 28-year old since his move however, and Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that the midfielder tried to get himself a move away this summer, but failed due to a lack of interest:
“The player (Sissoko) was the first one interested in leaving this summer,’
“He didn’t play too much last season or not as much as he wanted and, always, the player is looking to move, to try to feel better and try to be important, maybe at another club.
“But I think that possibility didn’t exist.”
To my surprise, the Frenchman has actually looked slightly more effective when I’ve seen glimpses of him for Tottenham this season.
He laid on a decent assist for Harry Kane in the Champions League this week, however I am still perplexed as to how he got himself called up to the latest France squad over Manchester United’s in-form Anthony Martial – a player who looks to be on a completely different level to Sissoko.
Luckily for Moussa, he’s been given a decent chance in the Spurs team so far this season, but these comments from Pochettino are pretty revealing, admitting he was unable to secure a move away due to a total lack of offers over the summer.
He’s hanging on in there, but his ‘dream’ move to a top four club has hardly worked out as he may have planned.
Slightly more effective? The man has finally turned up for duty!!
Seriously, Sissoko was our panic buy (very un-Levy like) and he looked like a square peg
in a round hole every time he featured (which fortunately wasn’t often)
last season. This season, however, he’s trying hard to fit in, and, combined
with the talent he’s got (but has always been reluctant to display, both with
Newcastle and Spurs) he’s looking the business ..well almost, but I’m finally
optimistic about him being a positive influence in the side.
Maybe the fact no one wanted him last summer concentrated his mind, as
well as changed his mindset of playing at his own pace, to the detriment of
the team, while relying just on natural talent with no desire to work hard.
Either way, I hope he keeps this going, because with Dembele and Wanyama
out, we need Sissoko at his very best.
c b waters(Quote)