Soccer player David Bentley may stay on Russian team
September 12, 2012
Soccer midfielder David Bentley recently announced he may consider staying in Russia longer than his six-month loan deal that ends in January, according to The Press Association.
"Long term, we will see what happens," Bentley told the media outlet. "I am going there to hopefully enjoy my [soccer]. If things work out, then we will see what happens from there."
Bentley joined the FC Rostov team last week when Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas revealed he had no plans for making Bentley a part of his first-team plans.
Bentley, 28, signed a £15 million deal in 2008 to join the Spurs, but did not play a great deal under coach Harry Redknapp. He was then loaned out to both Birmingham and West Ham, but this was cut short after he suffered a serious knee injury that landed him out of play for quite some time.
Now that he is healthy again, he worked pre-season with Villas-Boas for Tottenham, but he got the boot and was sent to Rostov after Tottenham got Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele, according to the publication.
"You always hope," Bentley told the news source. "But there has been a lot of water under the bridge at Tottenham with me. I had the injury last year, I was out for a season, and there were a lot of good players there ahead of me. You always live with that hope in pre-season but it was not to be. I am looking to play some games and we will see where we go from there."
According to the Daily Mail, many are surprised at the possibility of Bentley staying in Russia, as he was once considered the replacement for David Beckham in England. However, that is not stopping him from trying his hardest - and enjoying - his time in Russia.
"I'm excited by the challenge. I'm there until Christmas; I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead," he told the media outlet. "I'm fit and ready to go really. I just want to get back to playing football, and get that buzz from playing again. I'm as fit as I can be after not playing."
Those who want to talk soccer and other sports can make calls to Russia using international calling cards without having to break the bank.