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Sol Campbell’s Agent Reveals Defender Turned Down ‘Unbelievable’ Offer For Arsenal

Sol Campbell’s Agent Reveals Defender Turned Down ‘Unbelievable’ Offer For Arsenal

When Campbell annoyed all Spurs fans by moving to Arsenal he had an alternative instead.

Anonymous

Anonymous

Sol Campbell's agent has revealed the former England defender rejected an 'absolutely unbelievable' offer from Barcelona, before signing for Arsenal.

Campbell was one of Europe's most revered centre-backs when he established himself in the Tottenham team in the mid 1990s, and was even the captain on occasion for the Lily Whites.

He was an icon to the Spurs support, but in 2001, he crossed the North London divide to sign for Arsenal on a free transfer - ruining his White Hart Lane legacy and turning himself into one of English football's ultimate pantomime villains.

The transfer has gone down in history as one of the most shocking in English football history, but one of the men at the centre of the deal has claimed it almost didn't happen.

Sky Andrew helped broker the move in his role as Campbell's agent, and speaking on talkSPORT this afternoon, he's revealed Barcelona were definitely in the mix:

At Arsenal, Campbell went on to become a club legend, and was a key cog in the club's historic 'Invincible' team of 2004 - but how would he have fared in La Liga?

What do you think?

This story was first featured on talkingbaws.com - simple, shareable sport. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Sol Campbell Seriously Calls Himself 'One Of The Greatest Minds In Football'

p>Arsenal legend Sol Campbell has risked ridicule from supporters - after insisting he's one of the greatest minds involved in football today.

Undoubtedly a brilliant player in his day, Campbell proved himself to be a world class central defender in the Arsenal side which became 'Invincible' in the 2003/2004 season, and also scored in the 2006 Champions League final.

Campbell also won 73 caps for England across an 11-year international playing career, but whilst his performances on the pitch were hard to argue with, his comments and opinions off it since retiring have been slightly less desirable.

And his latest comments on the Oxford United job really take the biscuit.

Great footballer but one of the greatest minds in the game? Image: PA Images.
Great footballer but one of the greatest minds in the game? Image: PA Images.

It looks like Campbell is about to be overlooked in his bid to become to the League One club's new manager, in favour of Craig Bellamy, and he's really not happy about it.

Speaking via Sky Sports, he said: "I did go (for the Oxford job) and they didn't accept me. Maybe it was a lack of experience, things like that, but it's a full circle. Experience? How do I get experience? Well I need a job to get experience.

"I don't want to go too low that it's a struggle, and I don't want to go too low that I'm under someone and thinking 'what am I doing here?' I would rather be managing a club myself.

"I'm confident and it's not like it's rocket science to run a football club, especially when you get to that level. If you're intelligent enough and a quick learner you will learn pretty soon, within two or three games, what the team needs, training-wise, to survive in that league, get better in that league, to get in the play-offs or even win the league.

"I'm intelligent enough, it's not like I played on a fox and dog pitch all my life.

"I can't believe some people, I'm one of the greatest minds in football and I'm being wasted because of a lack of experience or 'maybe he talks his mind too much.'

"Go to Germany, they love people who speak their minds. They got the jobs. I'm sorry that I've got a mind, but don't be scared of that. That should be something you want at your club, but obviously not."

Jamie Carragher had a perfect response for Campbell:

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of confidence, but perhaps it's comments like these which make Campbell slightly unattractive to prospective employers in the football league.

But what do you think of his comments? Does he have a point at all?

This story was first featured on talkingbaws.com - simple, shareable sport. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Spurs, Football News, Premier League, Arsenal