Atlético Madrid full-back Kieran Trippier has revealed that he plans on retiring as a Burnley player, and he will not return to England unless it is to join the Clarets.
The Englishman first joined Burnley on loan from Manchester City in 2011 and impressed enough to earn himself a permanent move just six months later. He remained at Turf Moor until 2015, making 185 appearances in all competitions.
A mixed spell with Tottenham Hotspur followed, but Trippier is now enjoying life with Atlético. Speaking to the Burnley Express, he insisted he is happy in the Spanish capital, but he dreams of ending his playing career with Burnley.
"I would love to retire there," he confessed. "That's my aim, to retire at Burnley. I have a great relationship with Sean Dyche.
"I want to play as high as I can for as long as I can, but I'll know when the time is right. If I'm at Atléti for another two years that'll take me to 32 and Burnley's the only club that I'd come back to England for.
"That's the way I want it to plan out. I want to play here for as long as I can and then finish playing for a manager like Sean Dyche while ending my career at Burnley. That's where I want to finish."
Well, it seems like Tripper has got this all thought out, and it's a plan which makes a lot of sense. Burnley would be able to bring him back as a free agent in 2022, and they'd probably be able to get a few more years out of him before he decided to hang up his boots.
Having said that, it looks like it all might depend on where Dyche goes. Tripper went on to admit that his relationship with his former boss is as good as ever, and he dreams of working alongside Dyche once he retires.
Congratulations to Sean Dyche who is the @BarclaysFooty Manager of the Month for February#PLAwards pic.twitter.com/hypXauxz0w
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 17, 2020
"I've spoken to him a couple of times a week ever since I left Burnley," he said. "I always have done. We have a great relationship.
"We're in contact all the time about family, football, he still mithers (pesters, for anyone not from north England) me about taking me back one day! It'll happen one day for sure, I'll 100% be back playing for them.
"After that I'd start my coaching badges and I'd love to coach at Burnley. I'd just love to go wherever Sean Dyche goes because I have a great relationship with him."
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Source : 90min