After leaving Feyenoord, Ronald Koeman managed Southampton for two years between 2014 and 2016 and in his second season he reunited with his former player Jordy Clasie.
The Netherlands international played 22 times in the Premier League in his debut season and in 2016 Koeman left the Saints for Everton.
Claude Puel replaced the Dutchman as manager at the south coast club and a year later, the former’s contract was terminated.
During the Frenchman’s time at Southampton, Clasie struggled and has never managed to impress since then. Speaking to Dutch newspaper, AD, Clasie explains his struggles when the current Leicester City manager was at Southampton.
“Koeman left after one season and Claude Puel came. From that moment on it became less and less,” he said.
“The new manager did not speak English at all, only French. Not that my English was so great in the beginning, but communicating with the trainer was actually impossible.
“Then you do not just step in with him to talk about your situation. Moreover, Puel had quickly made it known that I simply did not appear in his plans.”
After a loan spell at Club Brugge last season, which wasn’t so impressive, the midfielder returned to Feyenoord on a temporary deal earlier in the summer.
Clasie, who has regained his old form, has started to feature regularly for the Eredivisie outfit and has made 15 appearances in the league this season. However, negotiations between the two clubs were not easy.
“We had already been at training camp in China and it went on and on. Two weeks in China, I did not see that at all,” he added.
“With lead in my shoes I then stepped onto that plane. I had to, the negotiations between Feyenoord and Southampton went awry. When we were in France with Southampton later, there was finally an agreement between the clubs.
“Finally. I wanted to go back so badly, it has been in my head for so long.”
