Kieran Trippier opens up on his acrimonious exit from Tottenham, revealing how he and his team-mates were 'baffled' at Daniel Levy's transfer decisions - and why he 'KNEW' chairman wanted him out
- Kieran Trippier has spoken about his move from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid
- The England international moved to Spain for £20million in the summer of 2019
- Trippier has revealed he was 'annoyed' at Daniel Levy for offering him to clubs
- The Newcastle man also says Spurs' downfall is tied to Mousa Dembele's exit
Kieran Trippier has revealed that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy 'annoyed' him by offering him to other clubs a few months before his eventual exit - and hit out at the club for selling Mousa Dembele in 2019.
The England international was sold to Atletico Madrid in a £20million deal in 2019 after four years at Spurs, with Trippier's form having dipped in north London.
The defender, who has just completed a January transfer from Atleti to Newcastle, admitted that he was not at his best level during his final few months at Tottenham, but still took issue with Levy prematurely telling clubs about his availability.
![Kieran Trippier has hit out at Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/27/08/53430513-0-image-a-2_1643272410970.jpg)
![Levy sold England defender Trippier in 2019](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/27/08/53430519-0-image-a-3_1643272411001.jpg)
Kieran Trippier (left) has hit out at Spurs chairman Daniel Levy (right) over his Tottenham exit
![Trippier completed a £20million move to Atletico Madrid after his Spurs form dropped off](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/27/08/53430511-0-image-a-4_1643272420217.jpg)
Trippier completed a £20million move to Atletico Madrid after his Spurs form dropped off
'As a footballer, you're trying to do your best and sometimes things don't go your way,' Trippier told The Athletic. 'It just wasn't happening, but I was still getting picked by Mauricio Pochettino.
'After the Champions League final (loss to Liverpool), it felt like the right time to move on. The media weren't really on my side at the time and maybe I needed to get out of England for a bit just to clear my mind. I never looked back.
'What annoyed me… as you know, people in football speak and there are always rumours, but I know 100 per cent for a fact – and this is what I was most angry about – that two months before the end of the season, Daniel (Levy, the chairman) was offering me to other clubs.
![Now at Newcastle, Trippier has slammed Levy for offering him to other clubs before his exit](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/27/08/53430561-0-image-m-6_1643272446797.jpg)
Now at Newcastle, Trippier has slammed Levy for offering him to other clubs before his exit
'I knew for certain that was happening, so I knew my time there must be up. I was playing for my team-mates and the supporters, but I also knew I wasn't wanted.'
Trippier also spoke out about why he thinks Tottenham, who have yet to qualify for the Champions League since his departure, have been struggling both domestically and in Europe.
The England international believes the January sale of Belgian midfielder Dembele to Chinese side Guangzhou - which happened a few months before Trippier's own departure - was a 'baffling' decision.
![Trippier claims the January 2019 sale of Mousa Dembele (left) 'baffled' him before his exit](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/27/08/53430603-0-image-a-8_1643272505054.jpg)
Trippier claims the January 2019 sale of Mousa Dembele (left) 'baffled' him before his exit
'For me, the big one was selling Mousa Dembele that January,' he added. 'I think I can speak on behalf of the players who were there.
'In the dressing room, he was an unbelievable person and all the lads loved him, but on the pitch he was the kind of player who would make a couple of per cent difference. That's what wins you things.
'It baffled me that they would sell him. I know he was going to be a free (transfer) in the summer, but with the things we were challenging for, I would have kept him there and then let him go. He was the difference between winning a trophy or not.'
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