A former Sheffield Wednesday star has admitted he is enjoying his football again after leaving the club in 2022.
Sheffield Wednesday made a number of positive signings during the 2019-20 transfer window, with Josh Windass and Jacob Murphy both joining the club.
Murphy claimed ten goal contributions in his only season at Hillsborough, while Windass has gone onto become a bit of a hero.
There was also some disappointing arrivals too, with Massimo Luongo one whose poor injury record got in the way of success at Wednesday.
The midfielder arrived from QPR in 2019 and was constantly in and out of the squad, with several injuries during the 2020-21 campaign resulting in him making only 12 appearances as the Owls were relegated.
Luongo impressed a bit more in League One and was named in one Player of the Month and two Team of the Weeks, though was still left out of the match-day squad on 17 occasions.
Despite being offered a new contract, Luongo opted to leave Wednesday for a fresh start in 2022.
He joined Middlesbrough where things got even worse, failing to make a single appearance for the club.
Luongo went onto join Ipswich Town and has gone onto enjoy a real fairytale, earning back-to-back promotions straight up to the Premier League.
The Australian had looked to be on a real decline less than two years ago but is now a Premier League player, and he has now admitted that he can finally ‘enjoy football again’.
Massimo Luongo has proven ‘the doubters wrong’
Speaking to East Anglian Daily Times, Luongo said: “Even before I signed for Middlesbrough, I had a decision to make as to whether to go back to the A League.
“No-one was really wanting me (after leaving Sheffield Wednesday). It was a weird window. Teams were quite full up and it was hard to get a club. I ended up at Middlesbrough, didn’t play and it was like, ‘let me just sort my life out outside of football’.
“I came here on the chance that I could enjoy football again maybe. I was thinking, ‘You don’t have to play, but just get back into the love of the game’.
“Who would have thought that 18 months later we’d be in this position. It’s been a hell of a scenario that’s played out for me.
“When I came back last year I felt like I had a little bit of unfinished business. I didn’t think it would lead to the Premier League, but I’m so glad it did.”
When asked how he feels to be playing against the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Bruno Fernandes, Luongo replied: “I don’t care! Every game, obviously, is going to be ridiculously difficult, but I’m there! As long as I get on the pitch or am part of the squad then I’ll be happy.
“I came here not expecting to play much. I didn’t expect to play as much this season. It’s been good to prove some of the doubters wrong and just enjoy football again.”
Should Sheffield Wednesday regret letting him leave?
Massimo Luongo was another player whose career looked to be ruined by injuries, but leaving Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough proved to be the best thing he could have done.
The Owls certainly shouldn’t regret letting him go though, because he could have been at Hillsborough for years and possibly never improved.
Luongo clearly needed a fresh start and it really worked out for him.
Hopefully Wednesday can join him in the top flight soon, because Danny Rohl has easily been one of the most exciting managers in the Championship, behind Kieran McKenna himself.
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