Former Aston Villa defender Bjorn Engels has revealed it wasn’t difficult for him to make the decision to leave the club this summer.
Engels recently left Aston Villa to join Royal Antwerp in his native Belgium, bringing an end to a two-year spell at Villa Park.
The move comes after a disappointing year in the Midlands last season, where he failed to make a single appearance for the Villans.
That was in contrast to his first season at the club when he had been a regular following his arrival from Stade Reims.
He’s already spoken about his exit from Villa Park over the last week, even going as far as to aim a slight dig at his former club and their lack of European football.
And now he says it wasn’t difficult for him to make the move to Belgium, as he had his children to think of.
“(It was) not very difficult, because of the family. I have two children, the eldest of whom has to start school,” he told Sport Magazine.
“I was happy in England; the only thing I missed were matches. And we shouldn’t be silly about that; it made the decision easier. If I play every match, you don’t think about returning.”
Given his lack of playing time last season, Engels had been linked with a move away from Aston Villa for some time.
There were numerous rumours about a potential departure in the January transfer window when Belgian clubs were reportedly interested in his signature.
A move never happened as he ended up staying in England before securing his exit and transfer to Royal Antwerp this summer.
He has revealed, though, there were offers.
“I mainly wanted to play again. But I did not think a return was in order at that time,” he added.
“I am not in favour of transfers in January. Okay, it was Belgium, but I didn’t feel like turning everything upside down in the course of a season.
“The move, adjusting to a new club. I thought: if they are interested now, they will come this summer. And indeed, at the end of the season, the contacts were quickly made.”
