Wesley Hoedt has explained why he was keen to leave Southampton for a last-minute move to Royal Antwerp on Monday.
Twitter: Wesley Hoedt versterkt defensie van The Great Old!
Hoedt wordt een jaar gehuurd van Southampton met aankoopopti… https://t.co/NqYLJOWUz2 (@official_rafc)
The Netherlands international has been phased out of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans, and as such, he was available for transfer throughout the summer window.
However, it took until the final day of the European window for a deal to be struck, and Hoedt will now be playing his football in Belgium for the remainder of the season.
As quoted by Belgian news outlet HLN, the Dutchman lifted the lid on his decision to join Antwerp and also discussed his position at Southampton.
He said:
Antwerp came to me. I didn’t play for a while and that was one of the main reasons for me to sign here. I must go [and] play. This is an ambitious club and that fits me well. I want to show what I can do again.
I was in Southampton’s starting XI last season and played the first 13 games. Then came another manager who made it clear that I no longer appeared in his plans.
Read Southampton’s verdict
It’s hardly a surprise that Hoedt hasn’t been in Hasenhuttl’s plans given that he’s proven time and time again that he simply cannot be trusted at the top level.
Getting rid of him this summer wasn’t especially likely, given the shortage of speculation that surrounded his future, but it’s a massive positive that Saints have been able to offload him, albeit temporarily.
Jannik Vestergaard, Jan Bednarek, Maya Yoshida, Kevin Danso, and even Jack Stephens are all ahead of Hoedt, and it’s easy to see why.
Perhaps a move to Antwerp will be the catalyst for his revival as a defender of a respectable standard. If he does go on to enjoy success in Belgium, perhaps the Pro League side will trigger their clause to make Hoedt’s stay permanent next summer.
