I FELT SO LOST, SAYS BERAHINO
SAIDO BERAHINO believes he may have been frozen out at West Brom because of his refusal to sign a new contract, rather than over any fitness problems. The striker, who has joined Stoke in a deal worth up to £15million, admitted he felt ‘very lost’ and was often left in the dark over his career. Berahino has not played since September and was left out of the squad by West Brom manager Tony Pulis for his last 16 games. Now he insists he is close to match fitness and hopes to make his Stoke debut against Everton on Wednesday. Berahino’s weight was cited as the issue behind his absence but he feels a different reason could be the cause. West Brom repeatedly offered Berahino fresh terms, the last being worth £60,000 a week, but the 23-year-old rejected the lot because he was determined to leave. ‘It’s hard to explain why I wasn’t playing. The reason they were saying in the press was the opposite to what I knew,’ said Berahino. ‘I got accused of being fat. Suddenly, you’re unfit? It’s a question mark. They never actually told me why I wasn’t playing. It could be because I didn’t sign a new contract. I tried to have a chat with Tony Pulis. He didn’t say much, so I kind of knew where that was going. ‘The club had to cover themselves. They offered me three different contracts in the space of four months. After the first one, I said I didn’t want to sign as I didn’t think I was part of their plans. It was very hard. ‘All I’ve ever wanted to do is play football and when that is taken away from you, you are lost. I was very lost.’ Berahino added: ‘I just thank Stoke for having so much faith in me, for coming in window after window. Finally I’m here, I’m so glad.’