Dennis PraetLeicester midfielder, gave a long interview to the newspaper Nieuwsblad following the promotion to the Premier League of the Foxes, who also won the second division championship in England: “We celebrated twice, even if it was a modest party at the sports centre. This Sunday instead we will parade through the city with the open-top bus “.
Do you feel an integral part of this enterprise?
“Well it’s still a victory and a prize, I did my part even if I didn’t play as many minutes as I would have liked. I was part of the team but not 100%, those who played every match felt feelings of euphoria different from mine.”
Do you regret choosing to move to Leicester five years ago?
“No, I really wanted to go to the Premier League and I made the choice quickly. I also had some good moments… The painful part is that I just wanted to play more. Much more. Now I’m at the end of my contract and I feel ready for something new. I’m 29 years old and physically I’m at the peak of my career. I want to be important again somewhere else, I want to find the fun in the game again.”
Doesn’t it scare you to return to zero parameters?
“No, I’m certainly not scared because I think I’ve already demonstrated my worth enough. But there are questions to which you would like a quick answer. But several things are already happening, I just have to be patient, there are also clubs that they don’t really know what their budget will be.”
Any preferences?
“Yes, Italy will always be ahead. I played three years at Sampdoria and one at Torino, my best years abroad. The tactics in Italy attract me a lot, this year I had an Italian coach like Maresca, he impressed me. The English players say they have never learned so much and I still have the Italian telephone number, I have never changed it… I would like to return to Italy, where I have always felt comfortable.”
Maybe at Turin?
“They looked for me but the return never happened. At Leicester they thought I was too good, useful and versatile to let me go on the cheap. I’m not polemical or someone who pushes to move, but I would certainly listen to a proposal from Turin even now” .
No nostalgia for Belgium?
“No, not yet. I am open to every country in Europe but I reiterate that Italy would also have an advantage over Belgium. Now all my attention will go on finding the right club, I am realistic in knowing that the top tier teams will not come suddenly to catch me. But if I end up maybe in a medium range I can also become a pioneer.”
