OPINION
Toby Alderweireld put in a solid performance against Brighton on Tuesday, but his display would have been a bitter pill to swallow for Tottenham supporters.
The Spurs centre-back, who has hardly featured in recent weeks, showed what he was capable of during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with the Seagulls as he was a reassuring presence in his side’s defence.
Alderweireld was making his first Premier League appearance since October against the Seagulls and it was easy to see that his side were better for having him in the team.
While Maurcio Pochettino’s side have secured fantastic results without him, the 29-year-old’s presence made Spurs look significantly more settled defensively with him partnering Jan Vertonghen at the back.
Normally fans would have every reason to praise the defender upon seeing him put in a decent shift after being recalled into Spurs’ first-team.
However with the Daily Mail previously reporting that the Belgium international was set to leave the club in the summer as Spurs won’t meet his contract demands, his performance was bitter sweet for Spurs fans to witness.
The defender, who currently earns £50,000-a-week according to the Evening Standard, proved on Tuesday that his side would regret letting him leave the club, as he clearly makes a difference.
Alderweireld may be back involved with the first-team, but there’s no reason to suggest that his exit is off the cards.
The Daily Mail’s report claimed that he wanted a five-year contract that would see him earn £200,000-a-week, and there’s no way Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would ever meet those demands.
Spurs supporters are no doubt aware of this, as Levy’s reputation for driving a hard bargain and trying to save cash where he can is known.
Therefore while fans would have been pleased at Alderweireld’s solid display against the Seagulls, witnessing him prove his worth to the side would have been a bitter pill to swallow.