Mechelen defender David Bates has insisted it was his decision to leave Aberdeen for the Belgian outfit this summer.
Just one year after signing with the Dons' Bates tumbled down the Pittodrie pecking order under Jim Goodwin with new captain Anthony Stewart and Celtic loanee Liam Scales the first-choice pairing so far this term. Vice captain Ross McCrorie and new signing Hayden Coulson can both cover in central defence, leading to Bates' failing to make a single Premiership or Premier Sports Cup appearance this term before his departure.
In total Bates managed 34 appearances for Aberdeen last season after being signed by Stephen Glass, but didn't appear to be in Goodwin's thoughts as he revamped the squad in the Granite City. The 25-year-old was awaiting international clearance before he could make his Mechelen debut, but the Scotland cap came off the bench in the convincing 4-1 Belgian Pro League win over Kortrijk.
The former Rangers and Hamburg defender has now insisted it was his call to leave the Scottish Premiership. He told Belgian outlet GVA : “I had come back to Scotland mainly because I wanted to play as often as possible and at Aberdeen I was able to do that from the start.
"But just like a few years ago, I wanted to leave Scotland again. I always want to play in a good European league.”
With Mechelen facing a relegation battle this term after some disappointing early results, Bates insists he is focussed on keeping clean sheets as he described his playing style. He went on: “As a defender I am strong in the duels and I am definitely on the ball,
"I set the same goal every match: to keep a clean sheet. That's really something I fixate on. I hope to help them with that."
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