Fulham midfielder Lewis Holtby has revealed he left Tottenham for struggling Fulham in a bid to force his way into Germany’s World Cup squad.
The 23-year-old midfielder started just six league games for Spurs this season before completing a deadline-day move to London rivals Fulham, who currently sit at the foot of the table.
Holtby moved to White Hart Lane in the last January transfer window but, despite being a firm favourite among Tottenham fans, he always struggled to hold down a permanent place under either Andre Villas-Boas or Tim Sherwood.
Now he has swapped a fight for European qualification for a relegation dog-fight, with his justification for such a move clear in his mind.
“I reviewed my season at Spurs and checked how many games I had played recently and I’m a player who wants to play,” he said.
“I’m hungry for games, especially in the Premier League, that’s what I came here for.
“It is a great opportunity for me now at Fulham to get these games and get the full trust of the gaffer, Mr Meulensteen, and show my abilities and what I can do and maybe slot in to the Germany side too, somehow, to get my confidence running.
“I want to show the Premier League and all the pundits what I can do week in, week out on the pitch. To stay in London was perfect, everything felt right from the start. I will try and show people what I can do and hopefully the German national team as well.”
Holtby made his debut in Fulham’s 3-0 home defeat to Southampton last weekend and has been described by Whites’ boss Rene Meulensteen as a ‘class player’.
Even if he helps to keep Fulham in the top flight, he is still unsure where his future would lie as he would still have plenty to prove at Spurs.
He said: “It’s very early doors to be honest, I have a half-season loan deal and our task is to stay in the Premier League and if I think about the summer now then I’m not thinking about the task. I have a long contract at Tottenham so I can’t really say what will happen in the summer.”
