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Ottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has confirmed why he turned down a deadline-day move to Nice and left his club career in limbo.
The 36-year-old confirmed he wanted to leave Spurs earlier in the summer and the club were keen to facilitate an exit. New coach Ange Postecoglou has signed a new goalkeeper in Guglielmo Vicario and Heung-min Son has taken over the captaincy from the world champions.
But despite interest from the likes of Lazio, Newcastle and eventual former club Nice, Lloris remains at Spurs and is expected to be left out of the club’s Premier League squad.
But Lloris insists he was unwilling to change clubs to act as a substitute and didn’t want to hamper the development of Nice keeper Marcin Bulka following the departure of Kasper Schmeichel.
Speaking to the local newspaper Nice-Matin, the Frenchman said: “I would like to clarify the ambiguity surrounding the events of the last few hours.”
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“[On Friday]an hour before the end of the timeslot I received a call from an agent raising the possibility of joining OGC Nice.
“The player’s prospects and sporting project, the real reasons behind a player’s decision, far more than financial terms, have not been clearly addressed.”
“My professional career has shown how much these exchanges, exchanges and growth together have always shaped my decisions, even more so when it comes to returning to the club that coached me.”
“The fans and the team deserve better than a split-second decision based on a phone call with no expectations or a clear sporting project and only an hour left until the window closes at a time when I don’t expect it had.”
“To be honest, without that shared vision, at least with the president and the coach, I wouldn’t be able to sign. OGC Nice is and will always be a special club for me. It’s my city, my club, my blood.”
“A goalie [Bulka] is available today. He is undoubtedly one of the best at the start of the season. He has a promising career ahead of him.
“Joining a club to play, to build, to perform, yes; A commitment without a sporting vision and a direct positive impact on the team, no.”
Source : www.standard.co.uk