Tottenham Hotspur: Emmanuel Adebayor admits relationship with Daniel Levy was not good

Former Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor has admitted he did not enjoy a positive relationship with chairman Daniel Levy during the latter stages of his time at the club. The 31-year-old is set to return to White Hart Lane for the first time since leaving the club as Mauricio Pochettino's side host Crystal Palace in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Adebayor spent three years at Tottenham after impressing during an initial season-long loan from Manchester City but saw his influence gradually decline. After making just 11 starts in the 2014-15 season, the Togolese international failed to register a single appearance during the early stages of the current campaign having been omitted from both Pochettino's Premier League and Europa League squads.

Despite rumoured interest from the likes of Aston Villa, West Ham United and newly promoted Watford, the player remained in north London beyond the summer transfer deadline amid reports that he would only leave if his contract, which ran until 2016, was paid up in full at a cost of approximately £5m ($7.1m). An agreement to cancel his deal was mutually agreed in September, with Adebayor unable to join another top-flight club until January.

Palace eventually ended his exile with a short-term deal until the end of the season. Speaking ahead of that FA Cup tie, Adebayor had nothing but praise for Pochettino but claimed his final dealings with Levy were more complicated.

"My relationship with the manager was beautiful," he was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. "I think we have a very good relationship and had man-to-man conversations. We always talk and he told me 'Manny I don't count on you anymore' which I do understand and I realised my time was over at Tottenham and I have to move on.

"With the club itself, I did not have a good relationship with the chairman Daniel Levy because he made everything complicated. But at the end of the day, I know where I am from and when you want something you have to stand strong for it. And I stand strong for what I think is my decision."

Adebayor has made three league appearances since joining Palace, earning his debut as a second-half substitute during the 2-1 loss to Bournemouth at Selhurst Park. He has already opened his account for Alan Pardew's struggling team, notching an equaliser during the defeat against Watford last time out.