Thursday 18 September 2014 15:23, UK
Toby Alderweireld is convinced that joining Southampton was the right move for him, as he sought to make 'the best step'.
The Belgium international has moved to St Mary’s on a season-long loan from Spanish champions Atletico Madrid.
The agreement includes the option for a permanent switch to be made next summer, with it up to the 25-year-old defender to impress during his time in England.
It’s difficult to get the right step, and to play my game, that I can play my game, and I felt this was the best step – it’s a club that wants to grow, it has good facilities, so it was the perfect step.
Alderweireld is confident that he will, with a lot of careful consideration having gone into his decision to take on a Premier League challenge under the guidance of Ronald Koeman – a man he knows well from his early days in the Ajax academy system.
He said in the Daily Echo: “I know him (Koeman) from the Dutch competition.
“For me, I had a great year with Atletico and I wanted to play a little bit more.
“It’s difficult to get the right step, and to play my game, that I can play my game, and I felt this was the best step - it’s a club that wants to grow, it has good facilities, so it was the perfect step.
“I knew a little bit how the trainer wants to play football, and that’s one reason why I wanted to come here.
“I wanted to play and the trainer really, really wanted me, so that was a very important thing in why I signed.”
Alderweireld made his Southampton debut in a 4-0 mauling of Newcastle United and says he has already struck up a positive partnership with Jose Fonte at the heart of Koeman’s back four.
He added: “We can talk, we have a good connection.
“In the dressing room we talk a lot, so there’s a good connection between him and me, so I’m happy with it.”
