Quoted by the Atheltic in a wide-ranging interview, Arturo Lupoli has revealed his regrets at leaving Derby County when he did, and wishes that he had stayed at the club longer than he did.

The Rams are aiming to nip into the play-offs once again this season - providing it resumes - and Phillip Cocu will have certainly done a good job if he can achieve that at Pride Park this year.

The last time they were in the Premier League, of course, few will want to look back on given how results went that season and, just before that campaign started, Lupoli left the club.

Indeed, looking back now, he has revealed that he wishes that he had stayed in the East Midlands for a little longer than he did in the end, with him on loan from Arsenal.

He said:

“I decided to come back to Italy because it was my country and it was a big opportunity for me to play at a big club like Fiorentina. I should have stayed there (at Derby) because it was a place where I belonged. I knew it very well and I knew all the people there. But things happen in football."

The Verdict

Lupoli was a clever player and in the end, at the time, the draw to move back to his homeland and play for Fiorentina was enough to see him move away from the Rams.

It never really worked for him in Florence and since he has played at a lower level, with his days at Derby perhaps some of the best in his career during a short stint there.