Wardle reveals SWP U-turn
John Wardle insists Shaun Wright-Phillips said he would not leave Man City.
Manchester City supremo John Wardle says that Shaun Wright-Phillips' desire to join Chelsea in the summer came as a shock as he had assured the club he wanted to stay at Eastlands.The England international made the move to Stamford Bridge for a mammoth fee of £21 million over the summer, despite previously stating he had no desire to leave Stuart Pearce's side.
After withdrawing from the City squad to play Macclesfield in a pre-season friendly, Wright-Phillips joined Jose Mourinho's outfit to leave City fans in shock.
Wardle, in a statement outlining the club's financial results, revealed that the young star performed a dramatic U-turn, resulting in a transfer that City were keen to avoid.
"Since the year-end we have sold Shaun Wright-Phillips to Chelsea for a guaranteed £21 million," read Wardle's statement on the club's official website.
"It was with great reluctance that this sale was undertaken.
"Indeed, the transaction was only sanctioned after, to my great surprise, Shaun contradicted personal assurances that he wanted to remain at Manchester City and dramatically, on the eve of our friendly against Macclesfield, informed me that his perspective had changed and he wished to move to Chelsea.
"Nevertheless, Shaun remains a great ambassador for Manchester City and the work of our Academy.
"It was clearly felt by Shaun, and his advisers, that this was too good an opportunity to miss."
However, despite the disappointment surrounding the exit of the tricky winger and World Cup hopeful, Wardle also outlined how the funds from the sale brought a number of benefits to the financially troubled club.
"The £21 million proceeds from the sale of Shaun has provided funds to further invest in the first team squad and in our Academy, finances to pay off outstanding instalments on players purchased in previous seasons, and monies to reduce the club's borrowings," Wardle explained.
