Ashley Cole has claimed he left Arsenal to affix Chelsea in 2006 after the Gunners didn’t honour the next wage that that they had allegedly agreed with the defender.
Ashley Cole celebrates scoring for Arsenal in 2000 (Picture: Getty Pictures)
Former Chelsea and Arsenal star Ashley Cole beforehand maintained that he was compelled to go away the Gunners for the Blues in 2006 following damaged guarantees by the north London outfit. Cole’s two earlier golf equipment will conflict on Sunday with Arsenal pursuing the title and Chelsea searching for to safe an edge within the battle for Champions League qualification. Cole, now 45, insisted Arsenal went again on a contractual settlement. The previous England left-back finally accomplished the contentious change to Chelsea for £5million in 2006, with Blues defender William Gallas transferring in the other way.
The switch prompted a phase of the Arsenal fanbase to conclude the transfer was motivated by monetary acquire. That notion was strengthened after Cole infamously disclosed in his autobiography that Arsenal’s recent contract proposal of £55,000 per week left him “trembling with anger” to such an extent that he practically crashed his car in shock. However, talking on That Peter Crouch Podcast in January 2025, Cole maintained it was Arsenal’s incapacity to honour the next wage they allegedly had dedicated to.
“My state of affairs was I knew what I used to be value,” he mentioned. “If you happen to do not wish to pay it, no drawback. However we did comply with pay it. All the things was agreed after which they pulled the rug [from] below me. They broke their promise – I could not inform you why.”
In 2005, Cole notoriously met with Chelsea’s then-manager Jose Mourinho and membership chief govt Peter Kenyon at a London lodge, with out notifying Arsenal.
The incident led to a £100,000 nice for Cole, which was later decreased to £75,000 on attraction by the Premier League, and the clandestine assembly was labelled a ‘tapping-up’ scandal.
Nonetheless, he could not resist taking a swipe at his earlier employers. When questioned whether or not he acquired a lot satisfaction from Arsenal’s lack of silverware following his departure, he added: “If I am sincere, yeah – I nonetheless suppose to today.
“I snort to myself. I had loads of historical past there and I feel the best way I left was perhaps a bit dodgy however the lack of respect they confirmed me as effectively.”
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