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Tottenham prediction: Nacer Chadli will leave club after missing out on Euro 2016

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06 : Nathan Ake of Watford and Nacer Chadli of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Watford at White Hart Lane on February 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06 : Nathan Ake of Watford and Nacer Chadli of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Watford at White Hart Lane on February 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Nacer Chadli may leave Tottenham after not making the Belgium squad for Euro 2016

This isn’t the first time I’ve made my feelings known about Nacer Chadli not being quite good enough for Tottenham as the club continues to improve under manager Mauricio Pochettino. I predict that Chadli will seek a move away from Spurs this summer under the guise of being upset about missing out on the Belgium squad for Euro 2016.

To be clear, I’m sure that Chadli will feel somewhat aggrieved at not being selected for his country. Sky Sports report that both he and Everton winger Kevin Mirallas have missed out on the chance to compete for Marc Wilmots in the prestigious European competition.

Chadli will feel that he’s played well enough for the national team in the past to merit a spot in Wilmots’ final side, but I happen to agree with the Belgian boss. Chadli just isn’t quite good enough to make a difference when playing against elite competition.

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Wilmots has come to the same conclusion that most Tottenham fans have in regards to the enigmatic winger. He has sublime skill on the ball and truthfully, can score an important goal for his club or country against most opponents. However, he can’t provide those moments consistently enough to really be considered a world-class player. Furthermore, he struggles athletically to compete against elite European competition for either Tottenham or Belgium.

That doesn’t make Chadli a bad player. I believe he’s got enough ability to help lots of European clubs and lots of European countries for that matter. Unfortunately for the Dolphin, Tottenham isn’t one of those clubs and Belgium isn’t one of those nations.

That’s why I believe that Chadli will eventually agitate for a move away this summer. His omission from the Belgian squad will give him a perfect excuse to leave White Hart Lane with his head held high. He can tell the media and fans alike that he’s in need of more regular playing time if he wants to get back into the Belgian national team. It’s a perfectly believable line of thinking.

It won’t be the real reason that he wants to move away from Tottenham though. Credit Chadli for having the ability to see where the club is headed. He knows he isn’t going to increase his role under Mauricio Pochettino and will likely be bypassed by new signings this summer. He needs to secure a move away now before his stock drops even further next season.

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The time is right for Nacer Chadli to leave Tottenham and his lack of involvement in Euro 2016 gives him a great opportunity to save face. I hope for his sake, and the club’s, that he finds a club better suited for his level of ability this summer.

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