Tottenham star reveals extent of his homesickness, ‘beginning to take its toll’

 

While there are many benefits to being a professional footballer, notably the money, there are some drawbacks, such as the time spent away from the ones you love, especially if you move abroad.

A lot of players tend to try and relocate their family with them, but for some, that isn’t always possible, especially at the beginning of their careers.

Toby Alderweireld is the perfect example of this, leaving Belgium aged 15 to join the famous Ajax academy that developed him into the player he is today: one of the best defenders in the Premier League, playing for Tottenham Hotspur.

The 27-year-old spoke to Humo in Belgium about various aspects of his life as a professional footballer, including the tough beginnings he had to go through, living in a host family.

Now residing in London, as you would playing for Tottenham, the centre-back explains he still misses home tremendously.

The Spurs defender said: “Since I was 15, I have had no Christmas or New Year to celebrate with my family. I never, or rarely, see them. My oldest brother has twins, of whom I’m Godfather, but I wasn’t there for the day of their birth, or their birthdays since. I miss every special moment. After 12 years, it’s starting to take its toll.”

Even all the money in the world doesn’t make it any better.

He added: “You can’t buy everything. I can’t put €5k on the table and say ‘I want an evening with my friends in a bar’. They don’t invite me to family parties anymore because they know I can’t come.

“I’m grateful that something like FaceTime exists, but it remains FaceTime, it remains a text message. It doesn’t mean you’re all together, you know?”

Despite being very happy in England, playing in the Premier League at White Hart Lane, Alderweireld has thought about returning to Belgium in the past, but, for him, that step won’t be taken for a while.

He explained: “Sometimes I think about it. Let’s say I play for Anderlecht, then I can be home every day, but I’m at the highest level and want to maintain that as long as possible, because that’s what I worked so hard all those years for. I have only one thing on my mind: make the most of football.”

Revealing a move to China ‘simply isn’t on the agenda’, Alderweireld isn’t ready to leave Tottenham yet.

Spurs fans can sleep easy for the time being.