Arnaut Danjuma has become the latest Tottenham player to express his dissatisfaction with former manager Antonio Conte, as the forward is set to leave the club this summer. Reports from the Evening Standard suggest that Spurs will not trigger the £27million option to buy Danjuma, who joined on loan from Villarreal in January.
The 26-year-old had been set to join Everton before Tottenham hijacked the move and he endeared himself to the fans straight away with a debut goal against Preston in the FA Cup. He would go on to score just one more goal, ironically against former club Bournemouth, but was only handed 12 appearances – 11 of them off the bench – to make a mark. Most of these came under interim managers Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason, with Conte giving Danjuma just 49 minutes of football before he was sacked in March.
Despite his limited game time, Danjuma wishes no ill will towards Tottenham and their supporters, though his goodbye message did feature a little dig at the Italian manager and, to some extent, his successors. The Dutch international posted on social media: ‘To all Spurs fans, it is very difficult to sum up the season we’ve all had in words. Many highs and lows, yet I tried to give my all, anytime, at any moment for you all. An indifferent return to the Premier League for me. I’d be lying if I wasn’t disappointed with how the season ended for the club, the fans and me. I have proven and I know I have the ability to influence games and make a big impact, and if I could turn back the clocks and be given a chance to demonstrate that I would without question.
Putting the frustration aside, I am very conscious of the welcome I have received by, first and foremost the fans, whose continuous support towards me has truly amazed me. Likewise, the welcoming from the club, players and staff has been a heart-warming pleasure to say the least. ‘What is tomorrow worth, if it is the same as today? It is only through the hardships in life, we will be able to find ease. Thus, this is not a goodbye message. Never. The journey shared will live on in my mind, body and heart forever. This is to every fan who chanted my name, for every person who clapped their hands for me, for every kid who ran up to me for an autograph, thank you. Until we meet again, in sha Allāh.’