Leicester City midfielder reveals desire to return to Serie A

Leicester City midfielder Dennis Praet has opened up about his desire to return to Serie A this summer and the “painful side” of his time with the Foxes.

The 29-year-old Belgian midfielder left Sampdoria for the English side in August 2019 in a deal worth around €20 million. He briefly returned to Serie A for a season on loan with Torino, but the move was not permanent and he spent the last two campaigns with the East Midlands side.

Praet has less than two months left on his Leicester City contract and will not be offered a new deal, allowing him to leave on a free transfer in the summer. Rumors have linked him with a move back to Turin, where he has directly contributed to four goals in 24 games.

Praet talks about Leicester City

Speaking to Nieuwsblad, Praet was asked if he regrets leaving Sampdoria for Leicester City five years ago.

“No, I really wanted to go to the Premier League and I chose quickly. I had some good moments too… The painful part is that I just wanted to play more. A lot more.

“Now I have reached the end of my contract and I feel ready for something new. I am 29 years old and physically at the peak of my career. I want to be important again somewhere else, I want to find the fun in the game again.”

He commented on whether he was afraid of the free agent market.

“No, I’m definitely not scared because I think I’ve already proven myself enough. But there are questions you’d like a quick answer to.

“But already a few things are happening, I just have to be patient, there are also clubs that I don’t really know what their budget will be.”

The Leicester City midfielder was asked about any preferences.

“Yes, Italy will always be ahead. I played three years at Sampdoria and one at Torino, my best years abroad. The tactics from Italy attract me a lot, this year I had an Italian coach like Maresca, he impressed me.

“The English players say they’ve never learned so much and I still have my Italian phone number, I’ve never changed it… I’d like to go back to Italy, where I’ve always felt comfortable.”

Finally, Praet talked about the idea of ​​a comeback from Turin.

“They looked for me, but a return never happened. At Leicester they thought I was too good, useful and versatile to let me go cheap. I’m not dramatic or someone who pushes to move, but I would certainly listen to an offer from Torino, even now.”