Ade - Money killing football

Adebayor: Not here for the money

If I had made my decision because of money, I would not be at Arsenal. I would have been in Milan or Barcelona. You know how I could be earning a lot more money than I am earning here.

Emmanuel Adebayor
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Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has claimed that money is killing football.

The Togo international, who put pen to paper on a lucrative new contract at Emirates Stadium in the summer after hinting he wanted to move away from North London, also believes he has won over the fans who initially booed him when talk of a possible exit surfaced.

Adebayor claims some players are purely motivated by the wages they can earn, and that if he was the same way inclined he would have left the Gunners for pastures new.

Decision

Adebayor, speaking at the launch of EA Sports' Fifa 09, said: "Money is killing the spirit of the game. I don't want to mention a name here, but good players are made to be in a great team.

"And most of the players are not in a bad team, but they are not in their right place or position. Money is killing football because some people are making the decision because of money.

"If I had made my decision because of money, I would not be at Arsenal. I would have been in Milan or Barcelona. You know how I could be earning a lot more money than I am earning here.

"I made my decision because I love playing for Arsenal and don't regret anything."

Many Gunners fans were left distinctly unimpressed when Adebayor did little to quell reports he could be leaving Arsene Wenger's squad during the transfer window and made their feelings known.

But the forward clearly has a different recollection of events, claiming he was 'innocent', and now has his sights set on securing silverware for the Emirates Stadium trophy cabinet.

Leaving

He added: "I think I've won the fans back and they can't ask me to do any more. I'm fighting for the team, I love playing for Arsenal and at the moment we're in good shape.

"I've done quite well in my career so far, but I'm still empty-handed. I now want to fill my hands with trophies, which is the reason I stayed at Arsenal. I want to repay them.

"It didn't hurt me when the fans booed as I knew what had been happening and that I'm an innocent guy. If they booed me and I didn't know why, I'd be upset.

"But I knew people had been saying I was leaving and wanted to leave, so I understood. But it never came from me and there's no-one that can say today 'Adebayor told me he wanted to leave'.

"I decided to stay at Arsenal, told the boss I wanted to sign a new contract and eventually we did."