Tottenham Hotspur legend Graham Roberts has slammed Sky Sports News for their reporting of Toby Alderweireld’s absence from the squad to face Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Belgian enforcer Alderweireld has just come back from a serious hamstring injury, playing 90 minutes last week against Newport County in the FA Cup.
The 28-year-old was however left out of the Spurs squad entirely for their 1-0 North London Derby win over Arsenal on Saturday, and has reportedly been left at home as they travel to Turin to face Juventus.
As first reported by the Telegraph, Alderweireld is to be left in England to work on his fitness instead of travelling, which the newspaper claims raises fresh questions about his future at Spurs.
The enforcer is out of contract in the summer of 2019 and is yet to sign a new deal with the club, being heavily linked with a move away in recent months.
Roberts has now weighed in on these reports after Sky Sports reported the story, slamming the broadcaster for suggesting there was anything more than fitness involved.
“That’s a shock, Sky Sports News trying to stir up trouble re Toby Alderweireld not travelling to Juventus, there’s nothing in this he is just getting extra training so he doesn’t break down, why don’t you go and talk about Manchester United and Jose [Mourinho],” he said.
Roberts delivered the verdict on his Twitter account on Monday morning:
That’s a shock @SkySportsNews trying to stir up trouble re @AlderweireldTob not travelling to Juventus , there’s nothing in this he is just getting extra training so he doesn’t break down , why don’t you go and talk about Man Utd and Jose
— Graham Roberts (@GrahamRoberts4) February 12, 2018
OPINION
Roberts is a vocal character on Twitter when it comes to Tottenham, and it is no surprise to see him worked up about this story. Mauricio Pochettino is notoriously careful when it comes to bringing players back from injury, as illustrated by Danny Rose this season and Kyle Walker last campaign. There is most likely nothing in the story, and Spurs have the defensive players to cope without Alderweireld anyway. Talk about the Belgian’s future will no doubt continue unabated until he signs a new contract or moves away.