OPINION
Interpreting Toby Alderweireld’s rare public comments and occasional social media posts has been a fascinating sub-plot to the player’s contract dispute with Tottenham over the past year.
A large section of supporters have given up any hope one of the best defenders to ever play for the club will stay beyond this summer after widespread reports talks over a new deal had ground to a halt earlier this year.
But, could a fascinating twist to this drawn-out saga be on the cards?
That is certainly a possibility after the Belgium international spoke to the media in the immediate aftermath of his country’s third place play-off triumph over England at the weekend.
The World Cup was a huge success for Tottenham players, from winning captain Hugo Lloris to Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, while the likes of Kieran Trippier, Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen, Davinson Sanchez, Heung-Min Son and Alderweireld himself also made decisive contributions.
“It is something for the club and the fans to be proud of, you can see that for the past few seasons,” said Alderweireld, as quoted by Football London.
“Of course everybody will say you didn’t win anything yet but our level every season is top four and we are extremely consistent. You can see at this World Cup. The players are at a good level and being decisive players for their countries.
“Spurs are going the right way.”
Note how Alderweireld speaks of his current employers. Not in the past tense, or using solely the distant characterisation of ‘Tottenham’ or ‘Spurs’.
He uses the more personal terms ‘our’ and ‘we’ to describe the club he is supposedly quitting by the time the transfer window closes on 9 August.
Alderweireld doesn’t sound like a player who is heading out the exit door. Or, certainly not one whose future is done and dusted.
Much might be going on behind the scenes, and the end of the World Cup paves the way for players to negotiate transfers.
But the brilliant centre-back’s warm words provide hope he could stay and see out his contract, or even sign extended terms with the club he joined in the summer of 2015.