Mauricio Pochettino says that Nacer Chadli was asking about the possibility of leaving Tottenham Hotspur even before last season ended.
Chadli managed a total of 40 appearances in all competitions for Spurs last season, but the majority of his playing time came from the bench, something which had consequences as he was left out of Belgium's squad for Euro 2016.
The midfielder moved to West Brom towards the end of August, but Pochettino has revealed the Belgian was eyeing the White Hart Lane exit door long before then.
Pochettino told a press conference: "It was clear to him. He asked me before the end of last season if he had the possibility to go and play more at another team, I said to him ‘you are in my plan but if you want to leave and if it’s the right club, the right price and everything is right, it’s not a problem’.
"In the end he chose to go to West Brom, both clubs arrived at a deal and that was all that happened", the Argentine added.
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Chadli will have an opportunity to do Spurs damage this weekend when Pochettino takes his side to the Hawthornes to face West Brom for a Premier League fixture.
He departed White Hart Lane having made a total of 119 appearances for Spurs, scoring 25 goals in the process.
Chadli cost the Baggies a whopping £13m.
