The 2021 summer transfer window is now closed and the immediate focus will be on international fixtures, which gives certain players opportunities to talk to the media about their decision to change clubs.
That’s what Toby Alderweireld did when talking to reporters on Tuesday. He left Tottenham Hotspur and completed a move to Qatari side Al-Duhail on July 27th.
The Belgium international’s decision to leave Spurs and make a switch to the Middle East was questioned, especially in his country.
Roberto Martínez included the defender in his Rode Duivels squad for the September’s international break.
When addressing the media yesterday, the 32-year-old was honest in admitting the financial package plus a personal reason convinced him to leave Tottenham for Al-Duhail.
“Well, I could hardly refuse this adventure. Also financially, of course, I will not be silly about that,” the former Spurs man was quoted as saying by Het Laatste Nieuws.
“I have two children and at Tottenham I saw them very little. That hurt more and more. In Qatar I will see them more and that is very important to me. I want to see my children grow up and that can be done much better at my current club.
“At Tottenham it frustrated me that I had to leave my family behind too often, sometimes we played three times a week, with a seclusion before each time. That started to wring more and more.”
Alderweireld, who spent seven years in the Premier League with Southampton and Spurs, was pleasantly surprised with the quality of football in Qatar.
“The level in Qatar and at Al-Duhail is higher than I expected. Of course, it is not the Premier League, but the level is better than expected,” Alderweireld explained.
