Thursday, 24th January, 2013
Manchester United defender Alexander Buttner has admitted to feeling homesick, but explained countryman Robin van Persie has helped him, as the striker went through the same thing.
Buttner was snapped up by Manchester United in the summer from Vitesse and transported from Holland’s Eredivisie to life in the English Premier League.
It was a big move for the 23-year-old, who had never known life with a club outside his native country.
And initially it was not easy, he has explained.
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"I’ve been homesick, but that was mainly at the beginning", he told Omroep Gelderland.
"Everything went well and I’m starting to get used to being here more and more.
"Many people think that it’s easy to just move to another country. But I can tell you that it really is not easy."
However, Buttner has had countryman Van Persie to help him out who, he revealed, also suffered from homesickness when he initially moved to England.
"Robin told me that he also struggled in his first year in England", said the left-back, with the 29-year-old spending much time with his young countryman at Old Trafford.
"We talk a lot.
"Also about things outside of football."
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