Spurs centre-back Toby Alderweireld tweeted a picture of himself preparing for international duty with Belgium and many Spurs fans were quick to react.
Alderweireld, who signed for Spurs from Atletico Madrid in 2015, has made 172 appearances for the Premier League side in his four years at the club. However, the Belgian is seemingly unwilling to sign a new contract with the club as he’s on course to leave at the end of the season with his contract expiring.
Despite this, Alderweireld has started 13 games in all competitions for Spurs this season; averaging a 6.7 rating for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. He was linked with a move away in the summer with the club hoping to cash in on him instead of losing him on a free transfer, but Daniel Levy admitted that they struggled to sell the 30-year-old.
Reaction from Spurs fans to Alderweireld’s international call-up and season so far can be seen in the tweets below.
Can’t resist having these little digs on international duty can you Toby??
— phil hill (@philhill1979) November 13, 2019
Stay there
— Chumpwear™ (@Chumpwear) November 13, 2019
Well yes, you’re not a contract rebel for Belgium
— Achilles (@TonySpurano) November 13, 2019
Only a few more months til contract runs down bro. Bet you can’t wait!! pic.twitter.com/S1WvGdSKu2
— DeltaDrift (@DeltaDrift) November 13, 2019
When are you actually going to be BACK for Spurs?
— Nicky (@Marshall89Nicky) November 13, 2019
PLEASE SIGN A NEW CONTRACT #COYS
— Owen_Smith (@Owen__Smith01) November 13, 2019
??? good luck toby don’t get injured!!!
— f. (@ericmydier) November 13, 2019
Play well – champ!
Get spurs back where they should be!— alan long (@allong667) November 13, 2019
Good luck for your international matches Toby
— Sandrine (@Sandrin18948737) November 13, 2019
Spurs fans are clearly not all that sympathetic to Alderweireld’s current contract situation and are seemingly split between wanting the Belgian to sign a new deal and wanting him to leave.
What do we think?
Alderweireld has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League in recent years but seems, similarly to Christian Eriksen, to be letting his contract situation affect his performances for the North London club.
Spurs fans will be hoping that Alderweireld returns form international duty with a better attitude and in better form.