Harry Winks admits Tottenham Hotspur ‘would have kept me’ in the Premier League but the desire for a fresh start convinced him to join Serie A strugglers Sampdoria on a loan-to-buy deal over the summer, speaking to Il Secolo XI.
You have to feel for Winks.
In another world, he’d have been starting alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice for England at the Qatar World Cup. Instead, he finds himself out on loan at a club sitting one point off the bottom of the Serie A table. Winks hasn’t even made his debut for Sampdoria yet, a niggling ankle injury keeping the 26-year-old on the sidelines.
Not that Winks has any intention of bringing an early end to his ill-fated stint at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Harry Winks left Tottenham Hotspur for more regular football at Serie A outfit Sampdoria
“I’m staying at Sampdoria. And I’ll repay (their trust),” explains Winks, who’s 10th and most recent England cap came nearly three years ago.
“Tottenham would have kept me. But I felt I needed a new challenge, a breath of fresh air. And I liked trying the experience of another league. I liked the Italian one a lot.
“(Technical director) Mattia Baldini made me realise how strongly Sampdoria wanted me. Feeling wanted made all the difference. Then I started to find out more about Sampdoria; its history, its incredible fans…
“I watched the games on TV in August and I had no doubts. All that is missing is for this story to come full circle, and for me to take the field.”
According to Sampdoria president, Marco Lanna, Winks is determined to prove that Spurs boss Antonio Conte made a ‘mistake’ letting him go. In order to do that, however, the Tottenham academy graduate will have to overcome an injury which has already kept him out of action since August.
“I absolutely want to play for Sampdoria,” Winks adds. “The last four months have been very complicated, for the team and also for me. Lots of bad luck. I’m working hard to come back.
“It was and is frustrating not being able to play or train with the team. But I have to stay strong and aim for my goal. And I trust that, over the next five months, we will be able to do well.”
According to Fabrizio Romano, a Samp side with just one win in 15 Serie A games have a £20 million option-to-buy clause in Winks’ contract. One that, for a variety of reasons, looks unlikely to be triggered any time soon.
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