Filip Benkovic is hoping for a “fresh start” at Leicester City’s sister club OH Leuven after admitting “it made no sense” to stay at Cardiff.
Leicester Mercury
Tuesday 12th January 2021
The Croatian centre-back was recalled from his Bluebirds loan stint last week after making just one appearance and will now spend the rest of the campaign in Belgium, joining fellow City loanees Kamal Sowah and Josh Eppiah there, as well as club icon Andy King.
Game-time is the focus for Benkovic who has played just 18 senior matches over the past two calendar years, and he quickly realised he wasn’t going to get that in Wales, where “they didn’t speak much to me”.
He told Leuven’s official website: “I want to play football, man! I hardly played at Cardiff City in recent months. Here I want to make a fresh start and find my best form.
“It all happened very quickly. I didn't even have time to discuss my decision with Andy King and Josh Eppiah. The ambitions of this club and the conversation with the coach (Marc Brys) convinced me to take this step.
“(At Cardiff) they didn't speak much to me there. When I asked why I barely played, I was told they were quite happy with me. But in the end, the coach opted again for the guys who were there last season. It made no sense to stay there.”
Once he gets game-time, the aim for Benkovic is to “evolve” and show again the potential he exhibited at Dinamo Zagreb, and then at Celtic.