SAINTS loanee Wesley Hoedt believes he made a “mistake” by signing a five-year deal with the club.

Hoedt, who is currently on loan at Royal Antwerp until the end of the season, joined the St Mary’s side from Lazio for £15m in 2017.

During an interview with Sport/Foot Magazine, the defender said: “I made a mistake. I had a five-year contract [in Italy]. 

“After two years, they wanted to extend it for another five, with better conditions. 

“The Italian football culture is very professional, but everyone wants to play in the best league in the world, and Southampton were offering me a contract I couldn’t refuse. 

“Unfortunately, the club had two bad seasons and things didn’t go like I thought they would.”

Hoedt went from being a regular name in Saints’ starting XI to being exiled by current boss Ralph Hasenhuttl when he arrived at the club last December.

This saw the former Lazio man shipped out on loan to Spanish side Celta Vigo in January, with his La Liga debut ending in a red card.

The 25-year-old returned to St Mary’s in the summer for a pre-season where he wanted to prove he is worthy of a second chance on the south coast.

Hoedt was just one of a handful of players hoping to force their way into Hasenhuttl’s plans, as defender Cedric and playmaker Sofiane Boufal also reported back for duty.

While things have, so far, worked out for Cedric and Boufal, Hoedt was unable to impress the Austrian boss.

“I’m still under contract [at Southampton], so I don’t want to say anything bad but, since the start, he told me I wouldn’t play”, continued the Dutchman.

“I asked him many times why, but I never got an answer. This season, I was the best in nearly every test.

“He told me he wanted to give me a second chance, but I was never given one to begin with. 

“I trained hard for six weeks, but nothing. After a talk, I decided to prove my worth elsewhere.”

Belgian side Antwerp have the option to sign Hoedt permanently next summer, although the defender believes it could prove difficult for them to fund a move.

Hoedt added: “Who can pay Premier League wages? I’m at Antwerp, and it’s up to me to show what I can do. 

“It’s a very ambitious club and you can see that in the squad. That’s why I chose to come here.

“I’m not that young anymore, but I’m still only 25 and already have a lot of experience.”