Aston Villa FC

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Maloney: I rejected Fulham

04 Feb 2007 - 13:21:52

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Aston Villa striker Shaun Maloney has admitted that he turned down the chance to move to Fulham so that he could be reunited with his former boss Martin O'Neill.

The 24-year-old sealed a £1million transfer from Celtic to Villa Park just before Wednesday's transfer deadline closed but did consider the possibilities of moving to the Cottagers.

He told Villa's official website: "Once January came around I could talk to clubs and I did speak to people at Fulham.

"But after speaking to Martin O'Neill I had a decision to make. Obviously there are links with Martin and me and I think I did the right thing. I'm really happy to be here now.

"I know Martin joined Villa in August, but back then I was content at Celtic and hoping that my new contract would get sorted.

"The closer I came to January though, the prospect of leaving came into my head. Villa was the offer that really swayed me.

"It was my own decision to sign for Villa. Once I'd decided I wanted to come to Villa, I wasn't going to wait until the summer.

"But if things hadn't been sorted between me and Villa before the window closed, it would have been very difficult for me to go back."