Transfer Site

Champions League winner reveals what caused failed Aston Villa January move

  • Feb 03, 22:51

Aston Villa were reportedly close to signing former Chelsea attacker Salomon Kalou in the January transfer window, only for a permit issue to be the reason the deal broke-down.

According to quotes in German source Berliner Kurier via Read Aston Villa, a work-permit was rejected for the Ivorian international due to his lack of game-time for his country and being a non-European.

England would have appealed to me very much. I got a call from my good friend John Terry, who is now coaching Aston Villa. At that time he was our captain at Chelsea and a real leader. I would have loved to play under him.”

We tried until the end if there was a possibility but I’m not a European, I don’t play in the national team anymore. That was the problem.”

Kalou has fallen down the pecking order and his current club in Germany, Hertha Berlin and had been linked with an exit but ultimately remains until his contract runs down in the summer.

The now 34-year-old has had a glittering career, winning the Champions League, Premier League and African Cup of Nations – to name but a few of his winner medals.

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