“Saints Legend Declares Lallana’s Return a Godsend: Southampton’s Hero of the Past Praises the Prospect of Lallana’s Return”.
The 55-year-old acknowledged that he understands why some fans might be upset about Lallana’s return following his contentious departure in 2014.
Lallana, now 36, is expected to join Southampton once his contract with Brighton ends this summer.
In an interview with BBC Radio Solent, Le Tissier shared details of a conversation he had with Lallana before his transfer to Liverpool a decade ago.
He said: “Some fans were upset when Lallana left, and I think their feelings are justified because Adam didn’t handle the situation as well as he could have.
I actually talked to Adam. He invited me to his house when the move was being discussed.
“I told him, ‘I’d love for you to stay at Saints, but you have an opportunity to go to Liverpool. There’s a right way to go about it. If you handle it poorly, people will hold a grudge for a long time.’
Unfortunately, he didn’t follow my advice and instead listened to his agent. From that perspective, I understand why some fans are upset.
“That was a long time ago. We were discussing his coaching badges, which he has completed – he’s eager to move into coaching.”
Lallana has been balancing his playing career with earning his coaching qualifications. He has coached England’s under-21s, working with Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
“He has an excellent football brain. From sitting with him for 99 minutes at Wembley, I can tell he knows what he’s talking about,” Le Tissier continued.
“He can be a valuable addition. He won’t play the whole season – he will have a limited role in Premier League matches.
“I believe his presence in the changing room and his knowledge to share with young players can still be incredibly beneficial to the club.
“We need to move past previous issues and look forward. Adam definitely has the potential to contribute to this football club.”
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