---
title: "Tottenham Hotspur: Matt Doherty shuts down exit rumours"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/matt-doherty-shuts-down-exit-rumours/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Will Seager"
section: "Tottenham Hotspur News"
published: "2022-04-05T19:05:38Z"
modified: "2022-04-05T19:05:38Z"
---

# Tottenham Hotspur: Matt Doherty shuts down exit rumours

**Tottenham defender Matt Doherty has shut down rumours that he nearly left the club before his resurgence under Antonio Conte.**

### The Lowdown: Doherty’s resurgence at Spurs

The 30-year-old had endured a tough start to life in north London since arriving from Wolves in 2020. For the most part, the Republic of Ireland international has been [in and out of the team](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-doherty/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/171679/verein/148), failing to string together a number of consistent performances in a Lilywhites shirt.

However, under Conte, the right-back has begun to excel. As a result, he has become the Italian’s first-choice right wing-back, [starting Tottenham’s last six Premier League games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-doherty/leistungsdaten/spieler/171679).

[Tottenham latest developments!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-copy/)

### The Latest: Doherty’s claims

A plethora of rumours emerged [last summer and in January](https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/players/amid-exit-talk-matt-doherty-23587099) detailing Doherty’s potential exit from Hotspur Way, but the Irishman has now put these firmly to bed.

As quoted by [football.london](https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/players/amid-exit-talk-matt-doherty-23587099), he claimed:

*“I didn’t come close, I never had a conversation, nothing was ever said to me. From my point of view I was led to believe that I wasn’t going anywhere. I don’t know if that’s the case, that is what my point of view was. You have thoughts at times that it wasn’t working out, I just decided that I wanted to train hard and I wanted to play here.*

*“Why would I want to go anywhere apart from Tottenham? I thought if I keep training hard and I keep doing what the manager wants the opportunity would come and it would be up to me to grasp the opportunity and at the moment I seem to be doing that well.”*

\[freshpress-poll id=”391334″\]

### The Verdict: Fantastic turnaround

Doherty’s transformation at Spurs will come as a huge sigh of relief for the manager. Throughout his tenure in N17, Conte has been [critical of his options](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham-antonio-conte-wing-back-system-emerson-royal-1378933) at right wing-back, suggesting that he needed a replacement in January.

This sparked Tottenham’s pursuit of [Adama Traore](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/antonio-conte-keen-on-20m-adama-traore-to-solve-his-wing-back-problem-lw6qp0sbc), on whom they eventually missed out to La Liga giants Barcelona. However, with Doherty’s [recent resurgence](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/94042/MatchStatistics/Matt-Doherty), Conte’s problem now appears to be solved.

Therefore, the 52-year-old will be hoping that the Irishman can maintain this form, so that he has one less issue to worry about in the summer.

***In other news: [Pete O’Rourke drops Andrea Belotti to Spurs transfer claim](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-hotspur-news/tottenham-hotspur-pete-orourke-drops-andrea-belotti-transfer-claim/)***