Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp says Emmanuel Adebayor is wasting his career by failing to agree a move away from the club.
The striker refused to cancel his contract at White Hart Lane in order to allow a move elsewhere on Tuesday’s deadline day, and the Togo international has since said he did not move because he had not recieved a sign from god to do so.
Adebayor is currently earning £100k-a-week in North London and would’ve needed to agree a pay-off on his current deal before then agreeing a free transfer switch to West Ham, but the former Arsenal and Manchester City man decided against the move on the advice of his pastor.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has already told the striker that he is not part of his plans for the season, and Daniel Levy was even prepared to pay a portion of the player’s wages until the end of the season to help improve the chances of a transfer.
Adebayor declined the offer, however, and his former manager Redknapp is shocked at the player’s decision.
“I never noticed that with Manny,” said Redknapp when asked about Adebayor’s religious beliefs dictating his career choices.
“He needs to play now, that’s the thing. He needs to play somewhere. He is getting older and his career is wasting away.
“It is alright sitting at Tottenham because he wants the money Tottenham owe him to pay up his contract and no-one else can pay him the wages he’s on at Tottenham.
“I think somewhere along the line he has to think: ‘I’ve plenty of money and I need to play football before it’s too late.’ That’s what i’d like to see him do. It looks like he won’t do it again this window.”
Mauricio Pochettino has strengthened his front-line with the additions of Clinton N’Jie and Son Heung-Min in recent weeks, but missed out on the capture of Saido Berahino in contreversial circumstances.
With Adebayor now under contract till the end of the season, it remains to be see if the player – who hasn’t pulled on a Spurs shirt in six months – will now be given one last chance to prove his worth to the North London fans, or if Spurs’ boss sticks with his ‘surpless to requirements’ stance.
