Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor says there has been no fall-out with Spurs boss Andre Villas Boas and insists he had no intention of leaving the club over the summer.
The Togo international found himself training with the youth team during pre-season and was linked with moves to Schalke or Turkish side Besiktas.
But in an interview with Frequence 1, a radio station in his homeland, he denied a move was ever a likelihood.
He said: “You learned about Schalke 04 because it was in the press, but there were many clubs that fancy me and whose proposals were still on the table.
“But I decided with my manager, even before the start of the transfer window that I would not leave Tottenham and that’s what I did.
“I have never thought of leaving the Spurs. I am here, my family feels great here and I do not see myself in another city.”
The 29-year-old had a disappointing season last term and is now well down the pecking order after the arrival of Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela.
But he claims he can reinstate himself as the club’s first-choice striker.
He continued: “Today I will not tell you that I ‘m stronger than Soldado or Defoe or Lamela.
“We now have four in the attack. I do not know who ranks first, second or third but I know at the end I will be the first and it is the most important.”
He also denied there was a rift with manager Andre Villas Boas and said his disappointing pre-season was due to a family bereavement.
He said: “You know in the life of every footballer there are always ups and downs but I’m not complaining, thank you God. You know all started well in the pre-season. We flew to Hong Kong for the course and there I learned the news of the death of my brother. So my morale took a hit.
“So I went back for the funeral. I had a very difficult time after. When I went back to Tottenham, I talked to the coach and he told me that I was not ready yet for the pro group.
“I had to go to work in the reserves for two to three weeks to regain my confidence, my sense of goal, etc, And I complied with his advice. That’s why I ‘m still not on the bridge at the beginning of the season.”
Asked if training with the development team was a punishment, he added: “Not at all. I ‘m not at a training centre to get punished by my coach.
“There has been no argument; I did not hit him either so I do not see why he will punish me.
“It’s been 11 years I have been practicing professional football so as I was saying earlier, my brother’s death was a blow to me in recent weeks, but since I found my spirits.
“I’m going back to London in a few days and I will find my feelings and my place in the group. God willing, I will be able to enjoy my pleasure, my family, those who love me.”
