Vertonghen happy ‘great guy’ Alderweireld remains at Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur's Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld during a training session at Wanda Metropolitano (pic: Martin Rickett/PA Images). - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
The Belgians have spent most of their careers together and are still at Tottenham despite only having one year left on their current contracts
Jan Vertonghen is pleased Toby Alderweireld is still a Tottenham Hotspur player, but knows the future of his fellow centre back is out of his hands.
The two defenders have mainly played together since they formed a partnership at the heart of Ajax's defence in the 2009/10 campaign.
Alderweireld left Amsterdam four years later, but linked up with Vertonghen again in 2015 at White Hart Lane and the pair have been crucial in Mauricio Pochettino's team consistently competing in the Champions League and for honours since.
Yet this pre-season the affiliation looked set to end with a £25 million release clause in the contract of Alderweireld, but that expired last month and for now he remains in north London despite AS Roma holding an interest in him all summer.
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"I have played for so many years with Toby, he is a very good player and a great guy for the group and like I said before, it's out of my hands, but he is here now and I am happy with that," Vertonghen said of his international and club colleague.
"We just look at ourselves, we want to be in the best shape possible and whoever comes in or goes out that is out of our hands. We have got a great squad with great guys and whoever is here is ready to play for Spurs."
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The new Premier League season starts for Tottenham on Saturday with Aston Villa, recently promoted from the Championship, travelling to the capital.
Vertonghen and Alderweireld are expected to be including in Pochettino's XI for the fixture, but they could both be gone by the time the 2020/21 campaign gets underway.
Popular defender Vertonghen saw a clause in his deal activated earlier in the year to keep him in N17 for another season.
It will run out next summer though, and the 32-year-old knows his future will be a constant topic of discussion, but he is very happy at Spurs after joining in August 2012 from Ajax for £12 million, which has proved a great piece of business.
Vertonghen added: "I just want to focus on this year, I know I have got one year left so I know a lot of questions will be asked like now.
"I have said it before, I am very happy at the club. The supporters have been great for me, the manager has improved me a lot and has a lot of confidence in me.
"I feel very, very good physically so I am not sure what is going to happen this year, I can only say I am happy where I am at and I feel the support from the manager, my team-mates and the supporters."
