Baros' Blues bombshell
24 Jan 2007 - 14:03:09
Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips was on his way to Aston Villa in exchange for Milan Baros only for the England winger to scupper the deal by his reluctance to move to Villa Park, according to the Czech Republic striker.
Former Villa hitman Baros has made the claim after completing a switch to Lyon and signing a three-and-a-half year deal with the French champions earlier in the week.
"I agreed (to the move) with Chelsea. It was practically a finished thing," he is quoted as saying.
"Everything broke down over the fact Wright-Phillips did not want to go to Aston Villa.
"And coach Martin O'Neill told me that without any replacement, he would not let me go as he would not have any strikers left."
Baros has linked up with former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier at Lyon and has also claimed that he held a conversation with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho about a potential move to Stamford Bridge after the Blues' trip to Villa Park earlier in the month.
He added: "Just after the game in the tunnel he told me that he wanted me to join the team and asked me if I was interested.
"I told him so but it did not happen in the end."