Tottenham Hotspur-owned midfielder Harry Winks has told The Times that lack of playing time under head coach Antonio Conte was the main reason why he joined Sampdoria on loan in the summer of 2022.
Winks moved to Serie A club Sampdoria from Premier League outfit Tottenham on a season-long loan deal last summer.
The 27-year-old midfielder has been on the books of Spurs since 2002 and has made over 100 appearances in the Premier League for the North London club so far in his career.
Winks, though, struggled for regular playing time under Conte last season.
The Englishman made nine starts and 10 substitute appearances in the Premier League for Tottenham last season.
Back in 2020-21, Winks made nine starts and six substitute appearances in the league for Spurs.
The midfielder is under contract at Tottenham until the summer of 2024.
Sampdoria have the option to make Winks’s loan deal permanent in the summer of 2023.
The 27-year-old has had injury problems during his time at Sampdoria so far.
However, Winks has now recovered.
The midfielder has made four starts and one substitute appearance in Serie A for Sampdoria so far this season.
Harry Winks on Tottenham Hotspur and Sampdoria
Winks said: “The situation was clear. I told the club I wanted to go and play regularly. I wasn’t happy just being on the bench and not getting minutes.
“Every time I played, even if I did well I would be out the next game, and it’s really difficult to play your best football like that.
“I said to the club, with no animosity, ‘I want to play regularly. I’ve had some amazing years at Spurs but I want to go and get my confidence and fitness back. I need that to show my qualities again.’
“I spoke to Sampdoria, the manager, the director of football, and one thing that really attracted me was historically they’re a huge club.
“The main driver was I wanted to play for a team that wanted me, that respected me enough and wanted to commit to me in that sense. I wanted to feel wanted and appreciated because in the last couple of years it was difficult at Spurs. I didn’t have that feeling.”
The midfielder added about returning to Tottenham: “I’m not really thinking too far ahead.
“The most important thing is playing for Sampdoria and keeping the club in the division.
“Next year when I return, I don’t know where I will end up, but it will be good to have playing in Serie A and for Sampdoria on my CV. It’s something I’m very proud of, to have played for these two historic clubs.”
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