The former Tottenham and QPR man previously said football is 'just a job' and that the first thing a player thinks about when moving clubs is money

The 31-year-old equates having a sponsorship deal to prostitution

Benoit Assou-Ekotto claims to buy his own football boots from eBay

Former Tottenham left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto has revealed he prefers to buy his football boots on eBay rather than 'prostitute' himself with handouts from sponsors.

The Cameroon international joined Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne after spending the 2014-15 season without a club.

The 31-year-old, who previously described playing football as 'just a job', has taken the moral high ground by refusing sportswear company contracts, adding that Africans do not really benefit from sponsorship.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto (left) plays for Saint-Ettiene in football boots he buys from internet auction site eBay

The defender can wear any brand's boots but seems to have a fancy for adidas, here he sports a pair of Gloros

In Saint Etienne's trip to Girondins de Bordeaux Assou-Ekotto opted for the German brand's Mi Ace model

The 31-year-old missed 2014-15 after being released by Spurs following a spell on loan at QPR (above)

BENOIT ASSOU-EKOTTO CAREER Lens 2004-06: Apps 74, Goals 1 Tottenham 2006-13: Apps 200, Goals 4 QPR 20013-14: Apps 32 Saint Etienne 2015-: Apps 17 Advertisement

'I'd rather be free than to prostitute myself for a sponsor,' he told Canal+.

'In all honesty, when you're an African player, it's not that interesting to have a sponsor.

'When you're European, it's better because business is done in Europe.'

Instead of taking boots from some of the world's biggest sportswear companies like most professional footballers, the former QPR man prefers to get his boots from internet auction site eBay.

Assou-Ekotto claims paying for fashionable boots does not provide value for money and he prefers to play in older models.

'I buy shoes for €30 [£23],' he added.

'It's a good price for comfortable boots. You can find them on Ebay, and they're not expensive.

'Being fashionable is expensive, but you're more distinguished to be vintage.'

After his Spurs release, the left-back posted a snap from Braveheart on Instagram captioned 'freedom'

Assou-Ekotto did enjoy happier days at Tottenham, playing under Harry Redknapp in the Champions League