Statuesque Toby can be a new king

TOBY ALDERWEIRELD has been solid at the heart of Tottenham’s defence for the last five years.

And if residents of the town he grew up in get their way, he will be a rock in the heart of their community forever.

A petition to see a statue of the Spurs and Belgium defender replace that of King Leopold II — one of the most brutal exploiters of Africa in the 19th century — is gathering signatures at pace in Ekeren, near Antwerp.

Alderweireld (above) said: “I thought it was some kind of joke that people are actually signing.

“If they really wanted to I would never say, ‘No’, because I would be honoured. But I will not sign my own petition,” he added.

“I don’t know if it is good to take down the Leopold statue and I’m not going to get involved in that.

“Of course, I’m disgusted about all the things that have involved racism and I will never understand it, but taking a statue down? All I will say is we have to look at that period and what went wrong so we never get in that situation again.”

There were times pre-lockdown Spurs were accused of defending like statues as they lost six on the spin.

But the enforced break has given them extra time to work with boss Jose Mourinho and Alderweireld is adamant that, despite restarting eighth, seven points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, they are targeting a Champions League spot.

If Manchester City’s Europe ban is upheld, fifth would be enough.

Alderweireld said: “It all depends on the first results.

“We have to get a good momentum and the first against Manchester United is a very big game.”