Leeds United midfielder Vurnon Anita has broken his silence on his loan exit to Willem II, claiming that he was at a ‘dead end’ at Elland Road.
The three-cap Netherlands international secured a season-long return to the Eredivisie with Tilburg-based Willem after falling out of favour at Leeds under new boss Marcelo Bielsa.
Anita has now spoken out about his exit from Elland Road after arriving at Willem, admitting that he was unhappy in Yorkshire after an unsuccessful debut season in 2017/18.
Speaking to Dutch newspaper Trouw, he said: “I want to play football again, I want to enjoy the game again, that’s what I’m doing it for. In England I was at a dead end, you don’t want to stay with a club where the trainer doesn’t see it in you.
“Willem II is working hard, wants to go higher, I know some people here.”
OPINION
It is no surprise to hear that Anita was growing unhappy at Leeds, with the versatile Netherlands international never really settling in at Elland Road after arriving last summer. The 29-year-old endured a hugely inconsistent first season at the club under Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom, and he never looked like forcing his way into Bielsa’s plans this summer either. An exit was obviously the best move for all parties, and a move back to the Netherlands with Willem II looks to be a a sensible one. Unfortunately, life back home has not begun in the best fashion for the Leeds ace, with Willem suffering a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of PSV Eindhoven on Saturday, but hopefully things will pick up for him there. The likely outcome of his spell away will be a permanent exit next summer, but whether that will be to Willem is unclear at this early stage.