Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has jumped to the defence of teammate Tanguy Ndombele, insisting his talent has ‘never been questioned’ at the club.
Ndombele joined Tottenham in a £54m deal from Lyon back in July 2019, having established himself as a star with the French side.
He couldn’t live up to his asking price in London, though, with a series of unimpressive performances under a series of managers earning him the ire of the Spurs fanbase.
That continued under Antonio Conte, with the club electing to send him back on loan to Lyon in the January transfer window so they could bring in Rodrigo Bentancur instead.
That’s a move that’s worked out well for all parties, with Bentancur impressing under Conte’s leadership and Ndombele showing sporadic signs of his old self back at his former club.
It’s likely that Tottenham will try to sell the Frenchman in the summer and bring an end to a miserable spell that hasn’t worked out for anyone involved.
That is seen as the best option for everyone, and Lloris admits his compatriot wasn’t in the best place in London.
“He was in a somewhat complicated situation at Tottenham,” he told L’Equipe.
“He was looking for a little more playing time, which he found in Lyon, in an environment he knows very well, with people who show him a lot of affection, and, to get back on track, this is certainly the best choice he could have made.
“We all know his talent, which has never been questioned at Tottenham. He is a pure talent.
“He does things that others can’t do. Here, he has played some incredible matches, sometimes.
“And behind his somewhat nonchalant appearance, he has a good background, and he really loves soccer.”
