Toby Alderweireld has been an important player for both Tottenham Hotspur and Belgium for some time. Rising to prominence for his national team, in the run-up to Euro 2016 there was no player picked more by manager Marc Wilmots.
Able to perform well as both a central defender and at fullback, and happy to do either without complaint, Alderweireld is a dream player for managers to have.
At 27 years of age, Alderweireld is in the peak of his career and over the past couple of years has taken on the role of a senior player, with leadership qualities in his game.
It’s no accident, speaking to Marca he was asked what Mauricio Pochettino requires of him on the pitch: “To be a leader, who is focussed on defending and helping the team. I like to play the ball from the back. Fullback or centrally, I go where they need me. I feel good, confident.”
The Spanish newspaper asked Alderweireld if there are similarities between his current manager Pochettino and former boss Diego Simeone: “They have similar things like pressure or intensity. But there are also differences.”
Simeone seems very happy at Atletico Madrid, but has repeatedly been linked with a move to the Premier League and Alderweireld believes he’d do well: “Yes, of course. He can train here and at any club. He is one of the best in the world. It was a privilege to be with him, he taught me a lot.”
