Arnaut Danjuma believes he learned a lot during his six months at Tottenham Hotspur but regrets celebrating his first Premier League goal.
The 26-year-old joined from Villarreal in the January transfer window on loan with an option to buy that Spurs did not ultimately activate. Danjuma scored twice for Tottenham but struggled for opportunities during his time in north London despite calls from the fans for him to be used more.
Appearing on the Freshly Grounded podcast this week, Danjuma spoke positively about his brief spell at the Premier League club and especially that bond with the supporters.
"It was very nice to say the least. From the minute I got there my team-mates were very welcoming and the staff were very welcoming. The culture seemed very nice from the beginning until the end. The biggest compliment and appreciation I can have is towards the fans to be honest with you," he said.
"From the moment I arrived I really felt like they tried to have my back. It was lovely to experience and I don't think I've ever experienced anything like that on that scale, because the fans from Tottenham are very involved in the club. You can feel when you're in the stadium, when you're out of the stadium, when you go for a walk or whatever.
"You'll always have a Tottenham fan coming up to you and there are so many Tottenham fans so you will always come across someone. So the experience for me was definitely very appreciative and especially towards the fans because they really had my back from the beginning. On social media as well, I've seen a couple of things and how supportive they've been towards me. I wouldn't have a bad word at all to be honest with you."
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He added: "When I reflect back on the previous six months there's still so much I learned and so much I can better myself in. This whole new Danjuma that I am now compared to six months ago. It just makes me excited for the upcoming season and the future. I know that I can better myself in so many things. I've watched all of my games back. I get all the stats from my physical stuff during the season and I've acquired all the notes I need to get my whole schedule ready for pre-season."
When asked what it was like to play at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he added: "The Tottenham facilities, I think you can appreciate not only on the pitch but off the pitch, the stadium is very impressive obviously.
"So playing there, the experience for me was just a sense of appreciation as well because there are not many clubs out there who are willing to invest in their stadium like Tottenham have. You can see what they're trying to achieve as well with the stadium. There's a Formula 1 track that's being built under the stadium. They have [NFL games] and concerts and stuff. So in terms of the appreciation of the stadium it's very impressive."
Danjuma's one regret during his time in N17 was his celebrations following his first ever Premier League goal, because it came against his former club Bournemouth.
"I was a bit dubious to be honest. I really have an intense way of living the game and I had to perform for Tottenham. Obviously it hurts your heart a bit for your first Premier League goal to be against your former club. They served me really well and I hope I served them really well," he said.
"I think I celebrated a bit too much as well to be honest. It was 100% the emotions of the game. It was the equaliser and as a football player you represent the club that's on your chest and at the time I was just trying to perform and do my best for the club I'm under contract with.
"The funny thing is I was speaking to my friends before the game and they were saying 'imagine if it was your first goal for the club and it came against Bournemouth'. My first Premier League goal because I scored on my debut as well. They said 'make sure you stay cool and don't celebrate'. I said 'you don't even have to say it to me, this is my former club, it's out of the question'. I very much feel like you shouldn't [celebrate against your former club]. Bournemouth was a home to me. I really enjoyed my time there.
"But then during the game, when emotions kicked in, you lose it a bit and I think I put my hands up twice to get the stadium going a bit but it takes nothing away from the fact that I really love Bournemouth and I just lost myself a bit in those three or four seconds."
Danjuma also spoke about what life is like as a footballer during a transfer window, ahead of a time when he could well move on again from Villarreal.
"They're very hectic. For me my situation now is pretty clear. I came to Tottenham on loan for six months so with talks with various clubs that are interested because obviously I'm a loan player, I'm contracted to Villarreal so it depends. I have to go back to Villarreal and start pre-season there," he explained.
"There are a couple of clubs interested and we're talking with whoever we're talking with. On the back of those conversations obviously you have to make a choice. That's it. It seems pretty straight forward when I explain it like that but for the final details if you really want to get a deal done in the best way possible it's always hectic in a transfer window, for the player in general.
"The agent is doing his job because it's his job to look after the player and make sure that the talks are going favourably and everything is going the way it should do. For the player it's hectic because you don't know whether you're going to move or stay, what do you want, what does the club want, does the club want to keep you or sell you? Do you want to leave? Can you leave? Is there any suitable club that you're willing to go to.
"There are so many questions but I always look to get all the info to make the best choice possible in my career. It's hectic for a player though, if you move you suddenly have to go like this (clicks his fingers) and pack your bags. Family and friends have to come, you need a new house, new car, what are you going to bring, what are you not going to bring? You have to plan ahead. It might sound straight forward but it's always hectic."
With a need to push on in his career now the Dutch international has not stopped working since the season came to its conclusion and the sports science staff at Spurs have helped him.
"I've taken no time off at all. The day that the season ended, I started my preparation. There is a preparation I've been given by Tottenham that I stick by and I do some extra bits as well, just to make sure. Any season is very important but especially the next one for me because I'm just focused on nailing it and making sure I get the most out of it," he said.
"In football I think your prime hits in your late twenties. I'm 26 now and I feel like I'm getting closer to the prime years. I'm just getting more aware of it and conscious of it."
