Spurs ace Serge Aurier admits he wanted to leave the club last summer
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SERGE AURIER admits he wanted to quit Spurs over the summer.
The right-back, 26, claims he tried leaving following the Champions League final defeat to Liverpool after making just eight Premier League appearances last season.
But Mauricio Pochettino instead offloaded Kieran Trippier to Atletico Madrid, forcing Aurier to stay.
The Ivory Coast international has featured three times already in the league, and also played the full 90 minutes of the 7-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.
It appears Aurier is happy to stay at Spurs for now.
But there is a long list of other Tottenham players reportedly on the brink of ditching Pochettino’s flagging project.
Christian Eriksen is set to depart on a free transfer at the end of the season, with Real Madrid his likely destination.
Key defender Toby Alderweireld is out of contract next summer and has been strongly linked to Manchester United.
England international Eric Dier has been transfer listed and could be out of the door by Christmas.
Left-back Danny Rose is also up for grabs after coming close to joining Watford in the last transfer window.
And Aurier claims that although he’s focused on his current tasks, he is still open to leaving in the future.
Aurier said: “I was looking for an exit, so I couldn’t play. When you’re trying to move, you can’t play because an injury or whatever else can scupper everything.
“I wanted to leave so it was normal for me to not be on the pitch.
“Beyond that, it’s the manager’s decision. He’s the one who decides what’s best for the group.
“Like I’ve said, the season is long so we’ll try and be better going forward and for what comes next.
“That desire to leave, I think it’s a bit normal. I’m an important player of the national team. I’m not 20 anymore and I need to play, to be happy.
“There are situations that mean you need to make a decision. I’m a big boy and a dad, so there are choices that are good for me and my family.
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“But I’m not the only one who decides. Today, the window is closed so I’m focusing on my club and we’ll see what happens later.
“I’m not disappointed to have stayed because that will allow me to surpass myself, to have a very good season and we’ll see.
“The boss has the last word and here the boss is the manager.”