According to a recent report by The Telegraph, the arrival of the Premier League’s newest manager in Jose Mourinho has caused Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld to re-consider his departure from North London. It has been suggested that the Belgian international was ready to walk away at the end of his current contract tenure, but has now had a change of heart following Mauricio Pochettino’s dismissal.
The report claims that Spurs’ new Portuguese tactician has been a long-time admirer of the 30-year-old’s skill-set and that he even tried to sign the defender during his spell as the manager of Manchester United. Mourinho is being credited with a desire to rebuild the Spurs defence, and the report suggests that he would prefer to do it with Alderweireld still around as well.
What Has Toby Alderweireld Achieved At Tottenham Hotspur?
The Belgian international has been a Tottenham player since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2015 after he impressed at a particularly memorable loan spell at Southampton. The centre-half played in 26 league games for the Saints that year and was identified as a top player by the Tottenham scouts.
After joining, he’s gone on to become a regular with the Spurs side. Always respected by Mauricio Pochettino, his contributions in the heart of defence never went unnoticed in North London. In the year he joined, he played in all 38 of Spurs’ league games and got recognised as a real fan-favourite as well. He’s scored five goals over the years, having made 116 appearances in the English top-flight.
How Would Toby Alderweireld Fit Into Jose Mourinho’s System?
The towering Belgian is a strong and rugged centre-half, who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty to help his keeper see out a clean sheet. Extremely sharp with his positioning in the box, the 30-year-old has a knack for winning headers in the opposition box as well. His effort with the national side has provided him with an excellent boost of overall experience.
These are all characteristics that the ideal Jose Mourinho defender should have. The Portuguese mastermind often depended on players like John Terry, Sergio Ramos and Javier Zanetti to do his dirty work for him, and Alderweireld could fill a very similar role. The Belgian has the voice and the experience to really rise up to the occasion, and be the leader that brings this shaken Spurs side back together.
Why Tottenham Hotspur Must Extend Toby Alderweireld’s Contract
The North London club have been struggling to find any run of form in recent weeks but will be feeling hopeful under the current managership. Jose certainly has the right tools for the job already at his disposal; it’s just about whether he can keep them all in one place. Despite the Belgian’s reluctance to extend his contract at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, expect to see the personality that is Jose Mourinho, to convince the Belgian to be his commander.
