Adebayor clears the air over smoking and drinking transfer talk with Lyon
LONDON: Emmanuel Adebayor has denied smoking a cigarette or drinking during a meeting with Lyon to arrange a transfer to the Ligue 1 club.
The Togo international – who currently does not have a club – flew to France in order to try and get into their squad.
But because of a mix-up with his travel, they signed his teenage forward JeanPhilippe Mateta instead.
By the time he had the meeting with the club, they had decided they wanted to give 19-year-0ld Mateta more game-time than Adebayor would get – and he decided not to join.
The former Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace striker said: “Usually I do not comment on any transfer negotiations or speculation but this time certain matters need to be cleared up.
“Lyon wanted to sign me and offered to pay for a private jet from Togo to bring me to Lyon in order for me to sign ahead of their game against Marseille.
“The contract was all agreed and I was merely flying in to complete a medical and sign the paperwork.
“Unfortunately, I could not get there in time to be registered for their game and they signed another young striker instead.
“They still asked if I could come and speak to the manager and director of football in order to establish if it would be possible to sign us both.
“We all had a perfectly amicable meeting in Lyon but the coach felt it was not fair on the young player’s development to sign us both and I felt I would not get the requisite game time I needed to make this opportunity worthwhile.
“For the avoidance of doubt I only drank water at this meeting and did not ask for whisky or have a cigarette.
“This was a report that came out of a French newspaper and is not only ludicrous and ridiculous but was meant as a joke by the journalist.
“The statements have been retracted and the journalist is currently drafting an apology.
“Unfortunately the press in other countries couldn’t see that the journalist was being highly sarcastic and rewrote the story.
“The above facts can be supported by the Lyon manager, director of football and president. I wish Lyon all the best of luck for the forthcoming season.”