Loyalty: An Impossible Demand?

Article by e-Spurs Writer John Murwill

Within hours of Tottenham’s ‘main’ striker target, David Villa, dashing hopes of a Spurs move by agreeing a switch to Athletico Madrid, news emerged that Christian Benteke had handed in a transfer request. Simultaneously – and conveniently for the journalists who must have been frantically searching for new strikers to ‘link’ Spurs to – the 22 year old Belgian took the baton from Spain’s all-time record goal scorer to become Spurs’ new alleged target. Whether Spurs actually hold interest in Benteke is debatable, although 23 goals in all competitions for Aston Villa last season, an imposing physical prowess and age on his side would surely make him appeal to many of the top clubs in England.

However, Benteke’s transfer request – only a year into his 4 year contract at Aston Villa– raises the question of loyalty, which must be familiar to Spurs fans and football fans alike. Many supporters have welcomed the news, although have reacted indignantly to the proposed £20/25/30 million price tag. Some state he’s not worth such an amount, although Villa fans would probably argue that a player who single-handedly saved them from relegation is certainly worth that to them. But it also begs the question, is it possible or fair to demand loyalty from players? People might say that Benteke is merely being ambitious, that he has out-grown Villa. But this sounds vaguely familiar.

Luka Modric spent 4 years at Spurs, helping them into the Champions League before pushing for a move in an unsavoury manner, which eventually occurred when Real Madrid signed him last year. Dimitar Berbatov also demanded a move to Manchester United in 2008, leaving in what Spurs fans saw as a distasteful manner. Perhaps it is more the way that Modric and Berbatov left Spurs which caused such anger among Spurs fans, but Benteke’s recent request should remind supporters of the lack of loyalty which Spurs have experienced in recent years. Does his example, and the alleged ‘mercenary’ actions of Berbatov and Modric, mean fans must accept that players will always move on, and use clubs as stepping stones?

Picture: Action Images

Before cries of ‘betrayal’ are levelled at such players, perhaps it is worth remembering that football is a ruthless business – a fact that footballers are well aware of. How often do fans demand loyalty from their club to players? In truth, only those players that are seen as valuable are given the ‘loyalty’ exemplified most often by renewed or increased contracts. In 2009, and on the back of a horrific run of results whilst playing for Spurs, it would have been unsurprising to many if Spurs had decided to cut their losses on Gareth Bale. Fast-forward 4 years, and supporters are hoping that Bale shows loyalty to the club which was close to moving him on. While it could be argued that Spurs kept faith in Bale, there are numerous examples of players thrown by the wayside in football’s frenzied demand for success. If Benteke was to arrive at Spurs, while appreciating the skills and goals he could bring, Spurs fans would do well to remember the reminder he brings that loyalty, if not dead, is a rarity that can be expected from few players – or clubs – in football.

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