Emerson: Barcelona kicked me out
Emerson Royal was bought back to FC Barcelona from Real Betis earlier this summer, but after three matches for the club this season, the Brazilian was sold on to Tottenham. A funny course and in an interview with Spanish Marca, the 22-back has opened up about how the Barcelona management did not give him a choice:
I met the club's management and they started telling me about the club's situation, which was not good. They were going through a difficult time and they wanted to sell me. I told them I would like to stay and contribute to the club. If I could reach my top level, I know I would be successful, but I saw the writing on the wall. At one point, I realized that I could only say yes or yes to a shift. Put nicely, they kicked me out.
To the question of why he did not just choose to stay despite this, Emerson stated that despite his love for the club, he would not be sad and not play:
I have ambitions to play. I know I had a contract and that I could tell them I wanted to stay, but I want to be happy. I would not stay in a club I love but where I would be sad. I knew their thought was that I should not stay, so I decided to switch.