Outspoken defender wants to finish his career at White Hart Lane.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto says he wants to finish his career at Tottenham and has dismissed suggestions he is a mercenary.
The left-back has managed just nine Premier League starts for Spurs this season after being ruled out for four months with a serious knee injury.
Since his return in February, boss Andre Villas-Boas has used the Cameroonian sparingly, with both the right-footed Kyle Naughton and centre-half Jan Vertonghen occasionally preferred at full-back.
Assou-Ekotto, 29, has two years remaining on his contract at White Hart Lane and has been linked with a move away from the club this summer.
But the outspoken defender has insisted he wants to finish his career in north London and has stressed that he is not a mercenary, despite openly admitting that he sees football as little more than a job.
“I must say that I have seen quite a few Spurs players kiss the badge and then fuck off. I am still here,” the former Lens defender told the Guardian.
“What sort of mercenary stays for seven years?
“There is a part of me now that has a strong bond with the club,” Assou-Ekotto added.
“I would be quite happy to see out my playing career here, although I know that it’s not my call to make. I have every desire to see out my contractual obligations and, if possible, extend so that I can be here for long enough to play at the new stadium.”
Assou-Ekotto also dismissed suggestions that he did not see eye-to-eye with Vlillas-Boas, who replaced Harry Redknapp last summer.
“With AVB, if I had a problem with him, I would tell you immediately. If I don’t like the guy, I would tell you: “I don’t like the guy.” But that is not the case. I have no issues with him. So as far as I’m concerned, nothing is afoot. I understand why I have played the number of games that I have played. Everybody is entitled to an opinion but I don’t think that anybody has had a conversation with me or with AVB.”
The charismatic left-footer did concede that he had enjoyed working under Redknapp and had contacted the 65-year-old as soon as he heard of his dismissal.
“I phoned Harry straight away. I liked working with him, he has a cool attitude. With AVB, it’s more tactical, in terms of understanding your different team-mates and the opposition. He changes his teams more, moves them around. Some players will play two or three different positions in a single match.”
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