Tottenham Hotspur secured quite the coup when they snapped up Andy Robertson after his departure from Liverpool, and one ex-Spurs defender reckons the Merseyside club may live to regret the decision.
Robertson, now 32, arrived at Hotspur Way without a transfer fee following the end of his Anfield contract over the summer, becoming the first acquisition under new head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
Since linking up with the Tottenham squad for their Australian pre-season trip, the left-back has appeared in four of the six warm-up matches, sitting out only the opener versus Auckland City in New Zealand and an in-camera friendly against Hoffenheim at Hotspur Way.
The Scotland international has quickly become a key figure in the lineup, and with Destiny Udogie only recently returning to full training, he appears likely to feature from the start when Tottenham face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.
During his nine-season stint at Anfield, Robertson made 378 appearances, collecting two top-flight crowns, Europe’s premier club competition, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup, while frequently serving as captain. Despite this impressive haul of honours, he was allowed to depart without any compensation.
With Liverpool themselves under new leadership and likely to encounter early-season adjustment issues, Robertson’s switch to north London raised eyebrows across the football world. Speaking to Boyle Sports about the move, Hutton offered his thoughts.
The former Tottenham defender expressed disbelief that Liverpool permitted Robertson to leave for free at this stage of his career. He pointed out that Robertson’s experience remains invaluable regardless of the resources available to the club, and that such qualities cannot be bought. He noted that Tottenham’s new signing represents a significant boost for the north London side, filling a leadership void that had existed in their dressing room for some time.
Hutton, who shared a pitch with Robertson during his career, described him as someone who demands the highest standards from everyone around him daily and expected that trait to continue at his new club.
In a separate interview with Men in Blazers earlier this month, De Zerbi outlined his enthusiasm for landing the Scottish defender. The Italian coach emphasised Robertson’s all-round abilities both on and off the pitch, expressing his desire for the player to replicate the energy, character, drive and skill he displayed at Liverpool. De Zerbi indicated he hopes his younger squad members will absorb knowledge from Robertson regarding the mental approach, conduct in the changing room and on-field demeanour, calling the acquisition an excellent piece of business for the club.