Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier thinks Adam Lallana would be a valuable asset for the Saints in the Premier League next season.
The 55-year-old acknowledged he understands why some fans might be upset about Adam Lallana’s potential return due to his controversial exit in 2014.
Lallana, now 36, is expected to return to Southampton once his contract with Brighton expires this summer.
In an interview with BBC Radio Solent, Matt Le Tissier shared details of a conversation he had with Lallana before his transfer to Liverpool a decade ago. He said, “Some fans were upset when Lallana left, and I think they have every reason to be because Adam didn’t handle the situation as well as he could have.”
Le Tissier recalled, “Adam asked me to come to his house when the move was being proposed. I told him, ‘I’d love you to stay at Saints, but you’ve got a chance to go to Liverpool. There’s a right way to handle things, and if you don’t, people will hold a grudge for a long time.’ Unfortunately, he didn’t take my advice that day and followed his agent’s guidance instead. From that point of view, I understand why some fans are upset.”
“That was a long time ago. We recently talked about his coaching badges, which he has completed—he is keen to move into that side of the game.”
Lallana has been balancing his playing career with earning his coaching qualifications. He has also spent time coaching England’s under-21s, working with Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Le Tissier added, “He has an excellent football brain. From sitting with him for 99 minutes at Wembley, I can tell he knows what he’s talking about.”
“He can be a really useful addition. While he won’t play the entire season, his presence in the changing room and his knowledge to pass on to the younger players can be incredibly valuable to the club.”
“We need to put the past behind us and move forward. There is definitely potential for Adam to bring something positive to this football club.”