Valon Behrami must have thought Watford were having a laugh at his expense when, less than a week after signing a three-year deal with the Hornets, he was whisked back to Germany for the next stage of the club’s pre-season preparations, writes Tom Bodell.

The 30-year-old, you see, does not have fond memories of Germany after his solitary season with Hamburg ended in acrimony.

On the field it was an entirely forgettable 2014/15 campaign for HSV who finished 16th in the Bundesliga and had to contest a relegation play-off against Bundesliga side Karlsruher SC in order to secure their place in Germany’s top flight again next season.

Not that Behrami was involved. The former Napoli, Lazio and Fiorentina hustler made his last appearance for die Rothosen (the Red Shorts) in April.

Whilst the official reasons have not been given, HSV did release a statement on July 12 confirming Behrami had asked to leave the Volksparkstadion at the end of the season.

What might well have hastened his exit was a physical altercation with former Arsenal defender Johann Djourou during half-time of a defeat by Wolfsburg at the beginning of April – an incident later confirmed by sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer.

Behrami made one final appearance after that ill-fated match and, sitting in the luxurious surroundings of Klosterpforte Hotel in Marienfeld on Saturday, he is extremely reluctant to discuss the subject further.

“Yes it was a disappointment,” he says before taking a long pause. “It was a struggle. I do not want to talk about it.”

The subject is clearly off the agenda for now but the former West Ham United midfielder is engaging and considered throughout our chat.

And when it comes to his decision to return to England Behrami is honest.

While he enjoyed Premier League football, as so many before and since have found, the transition can be difficult away from the field.

The long evenings, the rain and the food have all been cited as problems by those who have moved to England.

Behrami explains: “The opportunity came up to return to England when I was not looking to come back.

"I left England when I was younger because I did not enjoy the lifestyle. My daughter was one year old and we were alone, my wife and I.

“It was difficult to settle in the country but now we have more experience and my daughter last year went to an English-speaking school.

"So now that we’ve grown up, I think it is a good solution to come back to London.”

It was at Upton Park that Behrami worked under former Watford and then-West Ham head coach Gianfranco Zola.

The Swiss international has only good things to say about the Italian but reveals he did not seek his former boss’ thoughts prior to his move to Vicarage Road.

“We did not speak because now he is in Qatar (managing Al Arabi) so we did not have the chance to keep in touch,” admits Behrami.

“But it was an amazing experience with him at West Ham and we had two fantastic years together.

“Since then I have always followed his career wherever he has gone – especially at Watford.

"That time at West Ham was amazing but then he left and that was the start of my problems there, so it was a big loss for me at that time.”

Behrami spent two and a half seasons at the Hammers playing 63 games.

Although returning to a familiar league, Behrami is joining an altogether different situation to that he found at Upton Park upon his arrival in 2008 – three years after the east Londoners had returned to the top flight.

For that reason the 49-cap Switzerland international believes there is little the two clubs have in common.

But he knows exactly what is required if the Hornets are to follow suit and become an established Premier League outfit.

“West Ham was different because there were already five or six players who were our guide, we followed them,” explained Behrami.

“We were already prepared for the Premier League.

"Here we have to work but we have to work from last year and keep this winning mentality going.

"We must follow the people with the winning mentality and their excitement as well. We need to follow them and the players with experience.”

Valon Behrami tries to halt Lionel Messi's progress at last summer's World Cup. Picture: Action Images

A lot has changed at Vicarage Road since Behrami was last in this country but the Yugoslav-born enforcer retained a keen interest in developments in WD18 thanks to a former Hammers trio.

Behrami said: “The old director of football at West Ham, (Gian Luca) Nani was there and Marco (Cesarini) was the physio and obviously Zola [was there as well] – so all people I had at West Ham.

“I was always watching what they were doing and I was very disappointed when they lost the Play-Off Final – I watched that game.

“I was always following but I never thought one day I would play for them. I was just following good friends.”

After West Ham came spells at Fiorentina and Napoli before his £3.5million switch to Hamburg last summer.

Valon Behrami holds off a challenge from Borussia Dortmund's Adrian Ramos. Picture: Action Images

Whilst Behrami’s time at HSV did not go to plan, he is still able to identify and appreciate the nuances of the Bundesliga and the Premier League for their merits.

“The Bundesliga is a very competitive league,” he says.

“Physically it is a very tough league and they run a lot. Maybe there is less quality but there is more running so you have to be ready every time.

“In England there is both, but there are probably seven games against big clubs which is more than in Germany – in Germany there is Bayern Munich.

"In England it is difficult with six or seven teams spending a lot of money and having a lot of talent as well.”

Asked what excites him about returning to the Premier League, Behrami replies: “The passion of the game and the way the people leave the game excited.

“During the game it is great football, you have fun and the referee never stops the game, he lets you play.

"Every game is exciting and that is what people think about England in Italy or Switzerland.

“So I am feeling good and I will enjoy every moment of the Premier League.”