The former Middlesbrough manager mocked the former defender while also offering some praise after his former protégé transferred from Tottenham Hotspur to Inter Milan this summer.
Neil Warnock made a few sarcastic remarks about Jade Spence after his £30 million transfer from Tottenham to Inter Milan, while also offering some praise.
Warnock and Spence had a public spat back in 2022. At that time, Spence was on loan from Middlesbrough to Nottingham Forest, where they secured promotion through the playoffs. Warnock had approved the loan, but Spence was subsequently sacked. Warnock stated at the time that Spence lacked commitment, which made him "feel like he'll be playing in a non-league in five years."
Spence then posted a photo of himself with a cigar in his mouth and the playoff trophy in his hand, tagging Warnock and writing, "Oh, where did my manners go! Welcome to Twitter."
Spence then established himself at Tottenham, subsequently earning a place in the England national team and rising to prominence with his performance at the World Cup. The North London club then agreed this month to sell the full-back to Inter Milan for a £30 million transfer fee, including add-ons. Tottenham also retains a 10% commission on any future transfer fee for Spence.
“I didn’t see him smoking a cigar at Inter Milan! He usually has a cigar in his hand when he’s up on video. But how should I comment on Jade Spence? I’m really happy with his achievements, and I think he’ll adapt to the change. But to be honest, I’m not surprised that Tottenham let him go.”
“I think their biggest problem last year was the dressing room. They had some good players, but I felt the atmosphere in the dressing room was terrible, and I’ve never liked Carlos Romero. Obviously, they’ve now let Jade go, and the manager has been in charge for a few months now. He knows what he wants, so Spence’s departure doesn’t surprise me. Ultimately, after he had a fantastic World Cup, Tottenham are unlikely to have a better chance to get a good financial return.”
He added, "When I coached him, he was a different player, which shows he's definitely changed. He must have learned a lot over the years. No one has ever doubted his ability, especially when attacking, but I'm less certain about his defense. However, when you see him playing for England, he doesn't really need to defend much; he's always charging forward. Although I think he could have helped a bit defensively in that last Rajon Messi goal, I still wish him good luck. And at Milan, nobody can understand what he's saying, which is good for him."
