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Mauricio Pochettino sends message to Toby Alderweireld after failed Manchester United transfer

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Pochettino spoke out on Alderweireld (Picture: Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino insists Toby Alderweireld can play a role in Tottenham Hotspurs season, despite the Belgian pushing for a move to Manchester United this summer.

The Argentine coach used the Belgium international sparingly in the second half of the 2017/18 campaign and he was expected to move on in the transfer window.

However, with Daniel Levy slapping a huge price tag on his head and Manchester Uniteds executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward pulling tight on the purse strings, Alderweireld has been forced to stick around in north London for the coming season.

Alderweireld wanted to leave Spurs (Picture: Getty)

But while the centre-back hasnt featured for Tottenham so far in 2018/19, Pochettino is adamant he can have a role to play.

First of all I tell them and then I tell you, Pochettino said when asked about Alderweireld ahead of the clash with Jose Mourinhos team on Monday.

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For me, all the players who are here start from zero. It is so important to give opportunities, not because of last season or two seasons ago. It is a new chapter.

When I signed my new contract here, it was like Id arrived on the first day. No prejudgment. You start from zero.