Mbwana Ally Samatta, who became the first Tanzanian in the Premier League after joining Aston Villa in 2020, made some admission over his former club.
In the summer of 2020, the 28-year-old joined Fenerbahçe on a loan deal, where his stay was made permanent earlier this year, and then in the last window Royal Antwerp took him on a temporary deal on deadline day.
Speaking to
Het Laatste Nieuws Samatta talked a lot about his former team and his time there.
Although he had the “perfect start” to his life in England, things didn’t work out in the long run and Aston Villa had to let the player go.
However, he doesn’t regret joining Dean Smith’s side and expressed his unhappiness over not being relied on last season.
“No [I don’t regret]. You can put me in a time machine and say: ‘Two months after you leave corona breaks out and you have to sit inside for three months’. I would make the exact same choice. It’s the Premier League, man,” he said.
HLN's next question was the reason of him leaving Villa for Fenerbahçe. Responding to that, Samatta explained.
“I actually didn’t want to leave Aston Villa. I thought I could do something for the club. But a lot had changed in a short time. There was a new sports director, as well as a new board.
“They wanted to give the team a new face. And there was no place for me in that. Could I stay? Yes. I just didn’t want to force anything. A footballer doesn’t feel like sitting in the stands every week.”
“It was painful, but I had to make the choice. And then came Fenerbahçe. A top team, with top fans. Known all over the world.”
When asked if he still desires a move to Premier League again, he answered.
“Yes, but now I give myself completely for Antwerp. One hundred percent and more. I don’t want to talk too much about the future – you never know what will happen. I live for what is to come.”
Source -
sportwitness
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