“I had problems with the manager” – Defender explains why Stoke City transfer didn’t work out
Leo Skiri Østigård had a short spell at Stoke City earlier in his career.
The Norway international arrived at Stade Rennais in the summer window. Friday’s edition of Ouest-France has published an interview with him, where he reviewed his career so far.
This is when the 24-year-old hinted at why his move to Stoke City didn’t work out.
The defender joined the Potters on a season-long loan deal from Brighton & Hove Albion in August 2021.
He made 12 appearances under Michael O’Neill, who was then in charge at Stoke City. His temporary stay at the English club was cut short in January.
Østigård was at eight different clubs before arriving at the Ligue 1 side. This includes four different loans spells while he was with the Seagulls and a temporary move to Viking from Molde SK in 2018.
When asked to explain about it, he said: “I don’t regret anything! At Brighton I was young and it was difficult to play, so they loaned me out a few times. It was usual for them to do that. I first went to St. Pauli, in Hamburg. It was the first time I really played at the professional level.”
“I still love this club, it was perfect to start with. Then I was loaned to the Championship [to Coventry City], in a difficult championship, people don’t realise how difficult.
“Then I went to Stoke City, where I had problems with the manager. I found myself in Genoa in January. I felt like a new person because I saw the sun in the morning! And after Genoa, I went to Napoli.”
This isn’t the first time the Norwegian has talked about the problems he had with O’Neill at the Championship side. In October 2023, when he was at Napoli, Østigård was crticial of the former Stoke City manager.
