Rita Odafe
Emmanuel Adebayor, the former striker from Togo, has shared insights regarding his exit from Arsenal.
In an interview with Optus Sport, Adebayor revealed that he was pushed out of the training facility by then-manager Arsène Wenger.
Wenger initially brought Adebayor to the team from Monaco, and he had an impressive season in 2007/08, scoring 30 goals across competitions.
Despite his success, a contentious contract situation the following summer caught the attention of various leading European teams.
Ultimately, while he signed a new contract, his rapport with Wenger suffered irreparably, leading Wenger to request his transfer, resulting in Adebayor joining Manchester City.
“I enjoyed an outstanding 2008 season, and there were clubs reaching out to me,” Adebayor recounted.
“Even AC Milan, with legends like Kaka, Gattuso, Maldini, and Shevchenko were interested, but I chose to remain at Arsenal.”
“Upon returning from a vacation, I had a discussion with Wenger, and he bluntly told me, ‘I don’t require your services anymore.’ I was taken aback, unsure of my next steps.
“I expressed my desire to compete for my spot, but he denied me that opportunity, stating I wouldn’t be included in any upcoming squads. It felt very harsh.”
“I decided to fight for my position, yet when I returned to the training ground the next day, I was met with a closed gate.
“That’s when it hit me that my time at Arsenal was truly over.”
