''Id love a return to France. Above all I would love to join PSG. - Benoit Assou-Ekotto, October 2008.
Its not often that a player is granted a reprieve when announcing his desire to leave the club, but Benoit Assou-Ekotto is no ordinary player. Since that proclamation six years ago, he has gone on to state that he simply plays football for the money, head-butted a team-mate during a World Cup match, and has mocked his club on social media following a 5-0 hammering at home to Liverpool last winter. The notorious incident that occurred in the World Cup humiliation at the hands of Croatia incensed Spurs supporters, as they took to social media to proclaim that Assou-Ekotto should never play for their club again. The tide had certainly changed, and despite his meek explanation, there wasnt much he could do to change the public perception.
''It all started with the first match against Mexico. Moukandjo was on my flank, he tried to dribble past two opponents and lost the ball. I told him he should pass it to me. He replied I was right. The same situation happened against Croatia again. Everyone can make a mistake. But when I told him again, he replied: Get off my back! I could not accept his reaction. There was so much frustration in that match. Now people take me for an idiot. I could not control my temper. If the score was 0-0, it would not have happened. When we went back to the changing-room, Samuel Etoo talked to me, but I was so angry that I didnt admit I was wrong. - Benoit Assou-Ekotto, June 2014.
The writing is certainly on the wall for the Cameroonian international having made omitted from the clubs Premier League squad for the season. With the supporters having turned on the left-back who has been with the club since the summer of 2006, it doesnt look like there is any way back for the former Lens defender. It looks like his time at Spurs could finally be coming to an end after 200 appearances, but the real question is what potential suitors would possibly be vying for the services of such an underhanded professional? So that's a wrap - do you agree? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
