Adebayor: Arsenal sold me for the money
442 Staff - Friday 24 July 2009, 12:03
Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor says the Gunners sold him to Manchester City because they needed the money.
The 25-year-old Togoese international swapped the Emirates Stadium for Eastlands earlier this month for a fee believed to be in the region of £25 million.
And the former Monaco man has insisted that, despite constant reports linking him with a move to AC Milan, he never requested a transfer from North London.
"When I came back from holiday, I landed on July 13 and my agent told me I was going to speak with the club," he said in The Sun.
"When I did he told me they had come to an agreement with another club.
"It was a difficult decision to make. But I went away and thought now is the time for another challenge. It took about a week to sort everything out.
"[Wenger] didn't really say why they wanted to sell me, but I found out that they needed the money and someone had to leave - that was me.
And the striker, who scored 46 league goals in 104 outings for the club, revealed his disappointment at the treatment he received from the Gunners' supporters.
"The way the fans behaved towards me was not nice at all," he said.
"I can't understand why they were after me. I did my best for them and I was very happy there.
"I scored 30 goals in a season - it's not my fault that Milan, Barcelona or Real Madrid wanted to sign me.
"I know a lot of people will say 'He's gone for the money'. But I would like to see one Arsenal fan who worked somewhere for £10 and was offered work elsewhere for £30 to say they would refuse.
"I come from a very poor city and country. I have a lot of ambition. I've had a career, but I only ever think about going up."
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