NAIROBI, Kenya, May 28- Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama has expressed disappointment after the departure of head coach Mauricio Pochettino to their rivals Tottenham Hotspur on a five-year deal.
Last summer, the Argentine made Wanyama the second most expensive signing for Saints when he splashed 12.5 million pounds on the midfield dynamo from Scottish champions, Glasgow Celtic in a record deal for a Kenyan player.
“I learnt a lot from him, he taught me more and that’s why I have grown as a player and there is a big difference compared to when I was at Celtic. He played a big role in my career development.
“I wanted him to remain because he had the passion for the club and I think the owners should not have let him go because the team can do better next season. It’s a big blow because he had good connection with the players,” the Kenya captain Wanyama told Capital Sport ahead of their departure for Comoros on Wednesday.
Pochettino signed the polite midfielder last July for £12.5m (Sh1, 841, 756,822) from Celtic FC, making him the most expensive player to be sold by a Scottish club.
The Argentine, who steered the Saints to an eighth-place finish in the 2013/14 campaign, resigned on Tuesday and will bring his backroom staff with him to White Hart Lane.
Assistant head coach Jesus Perez, first-team coach Miguel D’Agostino and goalkeeper coach Toni Jimenez following him in making the switch to the London club.
Wanyama will lead his nation in the second leg of their 2015 Africa Nations Cup preliminary round qualifier against the hosts in Moroni.
Besides Wanyama, Pochettino is credited with bringing the prominence of other young stars such as England trio, striker Jay Rodriguez, midfielder Adam Lallana and left-back Luke Shaw with the pair set to follow the manager out of St. Mary’s.
“I don’t want the pair to leave since we can build a successful team together at Southampton,” Wanyama said on the duo that is with England for the Brazil World Cup.
