While he understands the striker’s reasons for rejecting the move, he cautions that this decision could threaten future prospects with Mauricio Pochettino’s national team.
“That would have been a step up in terms of the way he would have been viewed, and not just by us on the outside - maybe even from a Pochettino perspective,” Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast.
“But I also completely respect it. We talk so much about these players, and we're kind of isolated in the soccer part of it - and that other 22 and a half hours of the day when they have to live their life.
“And you have wives and girlfriends and kids... and school and community, and you know, everything surrounding that, if and when you are in a place that's comfortable. So I can understand that it could be difficult to leave.”