Benjamin Stambouli: Tottenham Hotspur stint a 'necessary step' to Paris Saint-Germain move

Benjamin Stambouli claims his brief spell at Tottenham Hotspur was a "necessary step" that provided essential experience ahead of his return to France with Paris Saint-Germain.

The central midfielder arrived at White Hart Lane from Montpellier in September 2014, yet struggled to prove himself worthy of a regular starting berth in the Premier League as Mauricio Pochettino instead favoured academy graduates Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb.

Stambouli made just 12 appearances in total during his solitary top-flight campaign, playing more frequently in domestic cup competition and Tottenham's mediocre Europa League campaign, which ended with a disappointing 3-1 aggregate defeat to Fiorentina at the round of 32 stage.

This lack of regular first team football led to inevitable rumours regarding the 24 year old's happiness in North London, and The Mirror suggested in early June that he could be used as a potential makeweight in a deal to sign Giannelli Imbula from Marseille.

Stambouli responded to those links by reiterating a desire to succeed at this stage of his career with an English club and there was great surprise when reigning Ligue 1 champions PSG subsequently emerged as a suitor in the aftermath of Yohan Cabaye's move to Crystal Palace.

Although Thiago Motta is also expected to depart the Parc des Princes over the coming weeks after Atletico president Enrique Cerezo admitted his club are in talks over a deal for the Italian international, Stambouli acknowledges that PSG have taken a risk on him after completing a £6m ($9.2m) deal.

"It's true that PSG took a gamble," he told reporters as relayed by Goal. "Being in England has helped me get experience. I'm highly motivated and ready to start showing what I can do at PSG.

"I'm arriving at a world-famous club. England was my first step but this is a different level. I needed a few days to think about PSG's offer and I spoke to people about the club on the phone. I didn't hesitate after that.

"They said I should join for many reasons, the club like my behaviour and that I'm professional and I work very hard. I didn't play too much at Tottenham but my time in England was a necessary step for me to get where I am now.

"Being abroad has strengthened me. Being in England will help me integrate into the PSG team, I love England, I love their working culture. My experience there was essential. I would've wanted to play more but it helped me get here."

Stambouli made his debut for PSG as a second-half substitute during the club's International Champions Cup opener against Fiorentina on 22 July, replacing Blaise Matuidi in the 65th minute as a brace from Jean-Kevin Augustin helped secure a 4-2 win at Red Bull Arena.

Laurent Blanc's side face Chelsea in Charlotte next before tackling Manchester United on 30 July.

Tottenham, who are in the process of drastically reshaping their squad after sanctioning the permanent exits of Lewis Holtby, Etienne Capoue, Paulinho and Younes Kaboul, are also in action across the Atlantic next week with a fixture against a Major League Soccer All-Star XI at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado.

Pochettino has added three new faces to his squad so far this summer, with Kevin Wimmer, Kieran Trippier and former Southampton loanee Toby Alderweireld joining from Cologne, Burnley and Atletico respectively.