England international Kieran Trippier has opened up on how his departure from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last summer came about.
The right-back, who joined Spurs from Burnley in 2015, left Spurs last summer to seal a surprise transfer to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
His exit, considering how important he had been over the past few seasons for Spurs, came as a surprise, certainly when it was announced that Atletico Madrid would be his next destination.
However, the former Manchester City youngster has now opened up on just why he made the decision to swap North London for the Spanish capital when he did, admitting that former Spurs chief Mauricio Pochettino had told him that he did not figure in his future plans, despite having been a key figure under the Argentine.
Tripper, speaking to The Beautiful Game Podcast, said: "I've not really spoken to him since I left Tottenham. I've got a lot to thank him for. I've never once bad-mouthed him. I've just told it how it was.
"Tottenham, or whoever, can say what they want to say. I did knock on his [Pochettino's] door, and I said I have an opportunity to go to Atletico Madrid.
"If I am part of your plans, then I will stay. He didn't give me a yes, and he didn't give me a no in his office.
"So as a player you think 'oh right okay, no problem', but then I went to the chairman and told him the exact same.
"I had a conversation with the manager, and I said am I part of your plans? If I am, no problem but I have a great opportunity here to go to Atletico Madrid."
Trippier's full explanation of how he left Spurs has, as you would expect, sparked a conversation amongst the club's supporters, with the majority insisting that Pochettino was right to tell him that he did not figure in his plans after a disappointing 2018/19 season for his standards.
Others have also insisted that Spurs miss him, whilst at the same time saying his sale made complete sense.
Since leaving Spurs last summer, the defender, who starred for England during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, has racked up 29 appearances for Atletico, claiming five assists.
He most recently started the 2-1 win over Alaves on Saturday, which saw him claim the assist for Saul's opener.
