Player hints he was “bored and angry” at “lack of opportunities” at Brighton – Things now improving for him

Napoli defender Leo Ostigard has hinted he was “bored and angry” at Brighton and Hove Albion over a lack of chances at the club.

The defender has been speaking to TV2 in his homeland, relayed by Calcio Napoli 24, as he takes part in the international break with Norway.

The centre-back is now a regular for his country as well as his club, having stepped into the void in Napoli’s defence left behind by the departure of Kim Min-jae.

Heading up Napoli’s defence is the next big step for the 23-year-old, who started his career at Molde before a move to Brighton in 2018.

He failed to make a single first-team appearance for the Seagulls during his time at the club, instead spending most of his time with Brighton’s U21 side and out on loan with clubs such as St Pauli, Coventry City, Stoke City and Genoa.

He joined Napoli from Brighton in a €5m deal last summer and spent most of the season sat on the bench before being promoted this season and establishing himself in the first team, something he is more than happy about.

“You realise how far we’ve (he and cousin Jonas Raknes) come,” he said.

“I’m thinking above all of the lack of space at Molde with Solskjaer, the lack of opportunities at Brighton, the conflict with the manager at Stoke and long months on the bench at Napoli last year.

“When I don’t play, I can get bored and angry. When I can’t play, which I love so much, it’s difficult. But I’ve learned to deal with it better over the years and enjoy it even more when I can’t get on the pitch.

“You have to be happy when things are going in the right direction. When it backfires a little, I’m not happy. That’s how it should be, otherwise I feel like I’m losing the spark I’ve always had.”