Lizarazu laments Lloris´ Spurs move

Bixente Lizarazu said new Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris should have moved to a club of ‘higher standing’, after his move from Lyon.

The 25-year-old Lloris finalised his 12-million-pound switch on Friday, signing a four-year deal, but the former France defender Lizarazu – who mainly played his club football at Bordeaux and Bayern Munich – has claimed Lloris should have moved to a bigger club as Spurs are not a continental powerhouse.

“I imagined a club of a higher standing for Hugo Lloris,” Lizarazu told RTL.

“For me, Tottenham is not more powerful than Lyon. The experience in England is necessary, but I thought he would go to a top European club. For me, Tottenham is not a top European club.”

However, Lloris spoke of his eagerness to get started at White Hart Lane, while admitting leaving Lyon was a tough decision to make.

He told Le Progres: “This is a new step, a great personal challenge for my sporting and human development. I will fully realise when I start training in London.

“I’m proud and also sad to leave my team-mates, the fans that have greatly welcomed me, because it wasn’t easy to take the mantle of (former Lyon goalkeeper) Gregory Coupet.

“I’ll keep only the good things and the great memories of this great club and great city that allowed me to blossom and to reach my personal objectives in the national team.”