New Paris Saint-Germain signing Benjamin Stambouli said he had not "wasted his time" during a disappointing season with Tottenham Hotspur.
Stambouli, 24, joined Spurs 12 months ago from Montpellier, but made just four Premier League starts, and though he did appear in six Europa League ties, his stay at White Hart Lane was underwhelming in terms of statistics.
However, Stambouli, who joined the Ligue 1 champions on a five-year deal this week, told media he was returning across the Channel a better player for his experience in north London, even though he admitted critics had reason to question PSG's choice of him as a replacement for Yohan Cabaye in Laurent Blanc's squad.
"It's not hurtful," he said. "You can even understand it. At PSG, it's become normal to see players who have excelled at their previous club, but if they have put their faith in me, it's that they know my qualities.
"I have not wasted my time in England -- I learned a lot. I played with great players in some important matches. It's more or less a source of motivation to hear that. It's not that which I feed off really, but I am impatient to show what I am capable of doing."
He added: "I didn't get a lot of playing time in the Premier League. I played more in the Europa League and the FA Cup. Experiencing that adventure abroad made me stronger, it was necessary, and it's going to help me adapt more quickly here.
"As a football, I would have preferred to have played every game, because I'm a competitor, but I have very good memories of my experience in England, of the self-sacrifice and of daily hard work."