Cole: I was invisible man
11 Sep 2006 - 09:35:42
-
- Cole: I was invisible man
Ashley Cole has admitted that Arsenal's favourable treatment of Thierry Henry was one of the main reasons why he became so desperate to leave the Gunners.
The England left-back finally sealed a move to Chelsea on transfer deadline day after a long-running saga involving the two London clubs.
Cole says he felt like the invisible man while the Gunners were doing everything they could to entice Henry to sign a new contract.
In an extract from the 25-year-old's book, which is being serialised in The Times, Cole said: "The club made Thierry feel wanted and special, wooing him, wining and dining him, speaking in public about how much they want him to stay, going on a deliberate charm offensive.
"But me? I didn't have one dinner, one meeting or one phone call from anyone. That's not sour grapes, it's just a sad truth. The truth is that the Gunners had done nothing all season to hold on to me.
"My worst fears were confirmed when, as Thierry and I sat in the centre circle after the final whistle, his name was sung from the rooftops while my contribution was recognised by a deafening silence.
"As his chants faded away we waited for mine. And we waited. And there was nothing. 'They're not bothered about me', I said, resigned to the fact. It was like I was the invisible man."