Tottenham Hotspur defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto pens new deal
Tottenham Hotspur defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto has agreed to a new 5-year deal with the club that will keep him at White Hart Lane until 2015.
Manager Harry Redknapp holds the Cameroonian in high regard and labels him as one of the best left-backs in England.
Benoit made his move, believed to be worth £3.5 million, to Tottenham in 2006 from French side RC Lens. Since his arrival, he has made 88 appearances for the north London club.
Emergence of Gareth Bale as an attacking midfield player, rather than a fullback, has also helped the 26-year-old to cement his position in Spurs’ defence.
Earlier this month, the left-back expressed his desire to remain with Tottenham for a very long period of time.
He said, “If it is possible I would love to sit down with Harry Redknapp and the chairman and talk about me spending the next 10 years at Tottenham. It would be fantastic for me. I love the club and I love London. I hope I can
stay for a long time.”
Recently in an interview, Assou-Ekotto revealed that he was not passionate about playing football and he only plays for money.
He said, “If I play football with my friends back in France, I can love football," he says. "But if I come to England, where I knew nobody and I didn't speak English. Why did I come here? For a job. A career is only 10, 15 years.
It's only a job. Yes, it's a good, good job and I don't say that I hate football but it's not my passion.”
Assou also labelled other professional footballers hypocrites, who claim that they play for the love of the game and pretend to show loyalty to their clubs.
He exclaimed, “I don't understand why everybody lies. The president of my former club Lens, Gervais Martel, said I left because I got more money in England, that I didn't care about the shirt. I said: 'Is there one player in the
world who signs for a club and says, Oh, I love your shirt?' Your shirt is red. I love it. He doesn't care. The first thing that you speak about is the money.”
However, Benoit asserted that despite his material approach to the game he will continue to give his 100% for the team, while on the pitch.
Tottenham’s next fixture is a crucial one, against Liverpool FC in the Premier League.
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