Nabil Bentaleb comments highlight the ruthless side of Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino

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Mauricio Pochettino’s success at Tottenham Hotspur was certainly built on the foundations of giving young talents a chance to shine. His current team remains a haven for top young talents that have truly developed their game under the Argentine.

But not everyone he has initially given a chance has remained at the club. One such player was Nabil Bentaleb. His departure from Tottenham was an extremely divisive one. Under Tim Sherwood and during Pochettino’s early time at the club, he looked set for a key role.

However, by the summer of 2016, the talented midfielder was training with the club’s under-23 side and on his way out.

Pochettino’s treatment of Bentaleb frustrated some Spurs fans, who felt he was a top talent. Some still wonder why Tottenham allowed him to leave. But the player himself, speaking to the Independent this week, has finally given some answers to the matter.

“I got injured and when I came back, I wanted to play so bad that I had some arguments [with Pochettino]. I was a little bit frustrated, and I was learning basically. Being on the bench is a learning curve.”

“I know I made mistakes. But they helped me learn, as a man. And they don’t stop me from sleeping at night. And if I was 24 right now, and I had been at Tottenham, I don’t think I would make the same mistakes.”

Bentaleb eventually joined Schalke in a deal worth around £16 million, according to Sky Sports. He has been in good form in Germany since and this week will face Manchester City in the Champions League.

Undoubtedly, he could have had a decent career at Tottenham had he not have fallen foul of Pochettino. But as this shows, just like with Vincent Janssen and Ryan Mason, when Pochettino decides that time is up at Spurs for a player, the Argentine is a ruthless operator.

And so he should be. It certainly has not harmed the club’s development in recent years.