PAS Lamia striker Samuele Longo has revealed his regret at not seizing the opportunity to join Southampton during Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure. In an interview with Numero Diaz, the 31-year-old reflected on his career decisions, expressing a desire to alter certain choices. Currently playing for PAS Lamia in Greece, Longo has had a diverse career, featuring in Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Longo had a brief stint playing under Pochettino at Espanyol, contributing three goals and one assist in ten games. However, their time together was cut short when Pochettino was sacked in November 2012. Pochettino later found success at Southampton, where he made a significant impact before moving on to Tottenham, PSG, and Chelsea.
Reflecting on the missed opportunity to join Southampton, Longo admitted that during the summer, there were contacts for a potential move. Despite his dream of playing in the Premier League and Pochettino’s interest in having him, Longo’s agent advised him to stay in Italy. Trusting his agent’s judgment as a young player, Longo now regrets not asserting his desire to join Southampton and attempt to influence the decision.
“In my first year at Espanyol, I had Pochettino as my coach, who wanted me there. During the season, he was sacked because the team was not doing well, and the following year he went to Southampton,” Longo explained. “My dream has always been to play in the Premier League. During the summer, we had contacts, and I was very happy, but my agent’s decision at the time was to stay in Italy.”
Expressing a sense of hindsight, Longo stated, “I was a kid and I trusted him and said: ‘If you think so, then it means it’s the best thing for me.’ If I could go back, I would say: ‘No, I want to go to Southampton’ and try to force my hand.”
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