Tottenham Hotspur: Federico Fazio reveals off-field issues behind his January loan move to Sevilla

Federico Fazio has claimed that he was forced to leave Tottenham Hotspur during the January transfer window to return on loan to Sevilla until the end of the season after being exiled at Spurs due to "off-field" issues. The Argentinian defender, meanwhile, has refused to confirm whether he plans to remain at the Europa League winners beyond the end of the end of the current campaign.

The 28-year-old star moved to White Hart Lane from Sevilla in the summer of 2014 after Mauricio Pochettino's side agreed to pay his full €10m release clause. He made 20 Premier League appearances in his debut campaign at North London but was overlooked in the opening part of the current season, making only one appearance in the Capital One Cup defeat against Arsenal in September 2015.

Spurs therefore agreed to send him on loan to Sevilla in the last days of the January transfer window to let him to secure more playing time in his former side.

Asked in his presentation at the La Liga side about what went wrong at Tottenham, he explained: "In the last six months I played just one game. I knew that I was not going to be in the plans of my former club (Tottenham) but I still worked more than ever, of course you do not have the same feeling than when you are playing but I feel better than ever,"

"The first year I played almost everything since I arrived to the club. I felt really good. But due to off-field interests (I haven't played). They may try to press me or not... to get me out of the team. I knew about the situation and trained twice more than my colleagues to be %100 fit ahead of a move away".

His departure from Sevilla to Tottenham in the summer of 2014 was also controversial, with the Spaniard even threatening legal action against the Premier League side for trying to secure his services.

Fazio has admitted that he would have loved to leave the club in a different way but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to play in the Premier League.

"I would have liked to leave (Sevilla) in a different way but I was looking for a new challenge," he admitted. Now I have another six months challenge here to give my best, with great enthusiasm and desire."

Meanwhile, questioned whether he could remain at Sevilla after the loan deal expires, he said: "I come for six months. It has been already very difficult to get a (loan move) for this short time so let's see what will happen next. I hope to get the targets. I feel really good to give my best. I was calm during the transfer window because I lived a similar experience during the summer. I knew that everything was going to resolved in the last days and fortunately it worked out so I am happy."