Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino claims Roberto Solado wanted to leave White Hart Lane to join Villarreal this summer.

Spurs have come in for criticism from some quarters for selling Solado to the La Liga club – a move that has left Pochettino's squad very thin up front.

However, Pochettino hasrevealed the striker's desire to leave Tottenham was the driving force behind the deal.

"It was a club decision (to sell Soldado). A club wanted the player and the player wanted to leave," Pochettino said.

"This was his decision from the first day of pre-season.

"We knew he wanted to leave and we found the best solution for the club and for him."