Percy Tau has opened up about his conversation with a former Liverpool FC star prior to his departure from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2021.
Following a challenging period in the English Premier League, Tau returned to Africa, joining Pitso Mosimane at Al Ahly.
The Bafana Bafana star initially joined Brighton from Mamelodi Sundowns in 2018, during which he had loan stints at Union SG, Club Brugge and Anderlecht in Belgium while awaiting his visa. Once he signed with the EPL club, he made only five appearances out of a possible 30.
Ultimately, he decided to join the ‘Club of the Century,’ a choice that Adam Lallana questioned. Lallana, who played for Liverpool between 2014 and 2020, felt that Tau should have remained overseas.
WHAT PERCY TAU SAID TO ADAM LALLANA
“The respect and love I got from the players [at Brighton], some of them would ask me why I was not playing,” he told MSW. “Even when I left, I spoke to Adam Lallana, I told him I’m making a decision to leave Brighton and go to Ahly.
“He was shocked, and he was like ‘Why are you doing that?’. At least go somewhere [overseas].” Tau explained his reasoning to Lallana. He stated that, being in the last year of his contract, it made sense to consider leaving the team – Brighton.
“I gave him the reasons. I told him it’s not an easy decision and I had spent time on it and realised I’m not gonna win here [at Brighton] and in the end I don’t wanna lose myself in this situation.
“I don’t want to stay here just to get paid. I don’t want to stay here because I want to stay in the Premier League. I’m on the last year of my contract, and should anything happen, it’s gonna be disturbing to my career.”
Tau has recently completed his loan spell with Qatar SC, and the club has officially confirmed his departure most recently. The 31-year-old is now a free agent, actively seeking a new club.
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