Nacer Chadli Turned Down Offers to Leave Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nacer Chadli has revealed how he turned down offers to leave north London last summer before becoming a central figure in Mauricio Pochettino's early success at White Hart Lane.

Chadli made just 15 Premier League starts after being signed by Ander Villas-Boas in the summer of 2013 during a torrid first campaign in English football.

After remaining at Tottenham, Chadli has been a key figure in the club's steady start to the season with four league goals and a single assist in six appearances, his latest contribution coming in the win over Southampton as he set up Christian Eriksen's winner.

But the 25-year-old admits things could have been different, claiming he received offers to leave Tottenham during the summer but is delighted to have committed his future to the north Londoners.

"There were some interesting offers this summer, but I wanted to stay at Spurs," he said. "I wanted to fight for my place because I know I have a lot of beautiful things to show.

"The new coach has a different way of training, and that pleases me. Also my role in the system suits me.

"Either I play as a second striker, in support of Adebayor, or on the flank. That depends on the opponent. I find that I have become more efficient."

The likes of Everton, Sunderland and PSV Eindhoven were all linked with Chadli last summer but amid 19 summer departures from Tottenham, the club retained the player they signed for £7m last year.

A run of just one defeat in Pochettino's first seven league games represents a decent start to the campaign and Chadli says the club's big squad is finally starting to blend.

"We are all working hard during the week, we had two games and it is good for us to work hard," he added.

"Then on the weekend we can show what we can do. Everybody is fit and it is good for the group.

"We know each other more than last season and are more used to playing together. We just grow and grow, we played against a strong side, today, for us it is good."