A FORMER Albion star thinks he should have had more of a chance at the club.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh left Albion in the summer to join Dutch side Feyenoord after a tricky spell at the Amex stadium in which he played 61 times, scoring only four goals and assisting two more.
He told Fox Sports: "I had been thinking about the decision and go for a new chapter and take a chance somewhere else for a long time.
"Feyenoord are one of the biggest clubs in the country, and I already knew the manager from my previous time here, and it is one of the nicest stadiums in Holland.
"I am enjoying it here, the first couple of weeks, I tried to settle down, and now it feels like home."
The midfielder, who Albion fans will remember fondly after he scored a stunning bicycle kick against Chelsea, has also said he is "glad" to see his former side doing so well this season.
He said: "In Brighton, we were looking for survival and ending up in a better position in the league.
"I am so happy for them, and I am following them as I have some good friends there. I am so glad that they are doing so good. Hopefully, they can continue."
The Iranian joined Albion for what was a record fee at the time from AZ Alkmaar, but unfortunately, the move did not work out as everyone had hoped as he struggled for consistency.
Jahanbakhsh joined the club when Chris Houghton was in charge but fell out of favour when Graham Potter came in due to a change in football tactics.
He said: "I personally feel like I did not get the chance that I deserved, but that was the decision of the manager of the time.
"But for me, there are no regrets, it is all about learning and getting experience and moving on.
"I have learned a lot even in the very down days, and some of them were very difficult. I think I have become a stronger person mentally and as a player.
"This summer I had to move on and I am happy with my choice. I would still make the same decisions, at the time, I already knew Brighton and the manager, and I really loved it at the time."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel