Gabby Agbonlahor has launched a stinging attack on Manchester City after they were found guilty of breaching financial regulations.
Former Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor has had his say on the 115 charges against Manchester City
News broke on Friday afternoon that an independent commission had found against the Etihad outfit in 114 of 115 charges, a landmark verdict although one yet to be confirmed by the Premier League, City or indeed the commission.
Indeed City, who have always denied the charges, continue to maintain their innocence with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak posting a message on the club’s website over the weekend which read: “The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.”
However, that hasn’t stopped a maelstrom of comment from swirling around the issue and speaking on talkSPORT Agbonlahor weighed into the debate, noting how the period under investigation coincided with part of his own career at Aston Villa.
“I played in that era, 2009-2018, we got relegated in 2015, six seasons, I played in it,” he told talkSPORT.
“You know what they did in 2009? They took our best player, Gareth Barry. You know what they’ve done in 2010? They took our best player James Milner.
“You know what they’ve done in 2014? Took our best player Fabian Delph. [Delph actually moved in 2015]
“As a Villa fan, or even as a Villa player in that era, [Man City] have taken our best player. We’ve gone to the Etihad and got some spankings from Yaya Toure, [Sergio] Aguero, David Silva.
“Where do they get the money to buy these players? So every team will look at it and if I’m all these teams ‘Get your lawyers ready, let’s go, we want paying’.
“What if have you missed out on Champions League qualification? What if you missed out on relegation, what if have you missed out on winning league titles, every league position you miss out on is a few million pounds isn’t it?
“All the money that Man City might have to pay to these clubs – off the scale.”
Again, it is worth out pointing City deny the allegations and Khaldoon Al Mubarak also made reference to the statement circulated on Friday which read: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the Club’s statement of February 2023.
“The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
It is being reported City will appeal the verdict if the commission is confirmed to have found against them.
