LONDON (DF) -- Tottenham playmaker Rafael Van der Vaart will leave Spurs in the summer following a heated argument with manager Harry Redknapp, set off by the Dutchman's decision to storm straight down the tunnel after being substituted in the 71st minute of Spurs' 0-0 draw against West Ham at White Hart Lane.
Redknapp took to the press immediately after the game to make it clear he was unimpressed with Van der Vaart's actions. He told a group of gathered reporters that he believes players should be respectful and watch the game with their teammates after they're substituted, regardless of circumstances or ego.
Van der Vaart, currently away on international duty with the Netherlands, later claimed his petulant act wasn't meant to be disrespectful, but those who know the Spurs midfield maestro well believe it's just the tip of the iceberg.
"He finds his position within the squad completely untenable," said a source close to the former Real Madrid man. "I think the relationship between him and the manager has gone beyond repair. Rafael has been in this situation before. He came to Tottenham to play full games and that's not happening. If he wanted to play 20 minutes, he could have stayed in Madrid. This stuff doesn't just blow over."
"It will blow over," claimed a Spurs spokesman regarding the row. "Rafael is away with Holland and Harry is in Bermuda, vacationing with his son and several agents. When they come back, I'm sure it will no longer be an issue. Time heals all wounds and ten days is well long enough to heal anything in football."
With Spurs on the outside looking in for next season's fourth and final Champions League spot, the source close to Van der Vaart believes any argument with Redknapp over playing time could prove to be a moot point in deciding the Dutchman's future.
"Rafael needs to play in the Champions League and Tottenham won't be there next year. He's already planning on leaving, the club knows this, so, at this point, anything the English manager says is really only meant to attract attention to himself."
