ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN has expressed disappointment in how Liverpool handled his exit from the club.
The midfielder was released in the summer after six years at Anfield.
Injury restricted the former England international to 146 appearances but he remained hopeful of his contract being extended even towards the end of last season.
But Oxlade-Chamberlain, 30, felt the silence from Liverpool was an indication that his time at the club was coming to an end.
He told The Athletic: “Some of the younger players were getting an opportunity to be involved, getting them ready for years to come, which I understand.
“I just guess you want that communicated to you because you start going out of your mind thinking, 'What more can I do here?' And it was never really written off that you’re not getting offered a new contract.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
POWER UP
Get £40 in free Bet Builder bets when you stake £10 on football with Paddy Power
ENGLAND VS SOUTH AFRICA
Smith NOT in Red Rose squad for huge semifinal against champs
“It was never said (that he wouldn't get a new deal). I obviously got the picture.
“I got told before they released the statement (three days before): ‘Just so you know, we’re putting this out about you, Milly [James Milner], Bobby [Robert Firmino] and Naby [Keita] leaving’.
“And I was like, ‘Oh, OK. Thanks’. But there was nothing official at any point before. It was just… the silence was enough to know what the situation was.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain signed for Besiktas on a three-year deal following his Liverpool exit.
Most read in Football
FINAL WHISTLE
BBC axes football show less than a month after Alex Scott & Dan Walker’s row
ON THE ATACK
England stars party with Emily Atack and rack up £35k bill after Euros heroics
LAID TO REST
Souness leads mourning stars at funeral of late Man City star Francis Lee
TEEN TROUBLE
I earned £6,500 a week at just 13 but women, cars and drugs wrecked my career
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
He revealed he was a little worried about not finding a club, and at one point was tempted to move to Saudi Arabia.
Oxlade-Chamberlain added: “I remembered when Danny Welbeck, a good friend of mine, left Arsenal.
“For a long time, he didn’t sign anywhere and I remember looking at it and thinking, ‘That’s Welbz. What’s going on? Why is no one snapping him up for free?’
“And now I was having conversations with clubs and people were questioning if I can play for this team that’s not Liverpool and you stop and think, ‘Hang on a minute. This is different’.
“I was tempted (by Saudi Arabia). This isn’t a big part of it, but… it didn’t seem too realistic at the start.
“Over the transfer window, the whole shape of it changed as more boys went there and it became more appealing with how many lads were going to be there and how that’s going to improve the league.
“So for sure, I wasn’t like, ‘No I would never do that’. I respect the boys who have gone there, for whatever reasons. From what I’ve seen, the league looks quite good.”
Source: Read Full Article
