Martin Samuel, Chief Football Correspondent
Win VIP tickets
Emmanuel Adebayor, the Arsenal striker, has given the clearest indication yet that he will leave the club in the summer.
On a day of contradictions, Adebayor at first appeared to state that he would be happy to remain at Arsenal, where he has a three-year contract, before changing his stance and welcoming interest from Barcelona and AC Milan. The Togo striker, 24, said that he would consider offers from leading clubs and was adamant that the final decision was his to make. He will decide one way or the other after talks with Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, scheduled to take place next week.
“If what I hear is right, Arsenal could bring in five or six times the money they paid for me,” Adebayor, who cost £5million when he signed from AS Monaco in 2006, said. “Everyone is getting the benefits. They have to make a good decision and I have to make a good decision as well.
“Arsène is like a father to me and I love him a lot, but he bought me because he believed in my quality, not because I was from Togo or needed the money or looked beautiful. He bought me because he thought I could do something good for his club. He put me where I am today, but now a lot of teams want me and I must decide.
“I will sit down next week with my agent and we will work out what is good for my career. That is the most important thing. We will meet with Arsène Wenger before anything and then I will decide.”
Adebayor's situation echoes that of Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United - the Portugal winger has been angling for a move to Real Madrid since before the Champions League final in May. Adebayor, like Ronaldo, has preferred to drip-feed news of his intentions, hence the speculation and uncertainty.
From a position at the end of the season when he was adamant that he would stay at Arsenal, Adebayor then said that he was flattered by interest from Italy and Spain, although yesterday's about-turn in Vienna represents his most naked deployment of brinkmanship yet.
Clouding the issue further is the belief that Wenger, while publicly insisting that he would like Adebayor to stay, is privately happy for him to leave, provided that Arsenal can secure a fee in the region of £30million. It is this game of bluff and counter-bluff that makes Adebayor's future so unsure, although, cutting through the fog, if the player wants to go and the club want to sell, the only outstanding issue would appear to be whether prospective buyers can afford the fee. Milan do not have Champions League football to fall back on next season, while Barcelona must pre- qualify.
Adebayor says that the ball is in Arsenal's court and he is waiting for Wenger to arrange a meeting when he returns from the European Championship finals on Monday. The player has set a deadline of July 21, when Arsenal report back for pre-season training, to have his future resolved. “I need to know by then,” he said. “I have a promise from Arsène that they will call me next week because I asked them to look at my contract and see what they wanted to do. Now I am waiting and then I will decide.
“I am in a position that I don't know where I will play next season, but that is normal. It will not be a difficult decision because if you had told me seven years ago when I was playing in Togo without football shoes that I would have a choice of playing in Spain or Italy, it would have seemed crazy. I never thought there would be so many clubs who wanted to buy me.”
Wenger, who has lost Mathieu Flamini to Milan, also faces a battle to keep Alexander Hleb. Supporters would view the departure of Adebayor as a huge blow, but Wenger has been steeling himself for it for much of the summer and has a list of potential replacements, including Roque Santa Cruz, of Blackburn Rovers.
Win a luxury weekend to Newcastle and its neighbour Gateshead, find out more here
Risk, resilience and embracing new technology
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
Discover the power of collective thinking. Submit a solution and be in with a chance to win a Media Hub Home Entertainment System
The inside track on current trends in the charity, not for profit and social enterprise sectors
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Make the most of the summer and enter our fabulous photographic competition, you could win a £5000 holiday
Corsica is an island of beauty and contrast, an ideal holiday destination
Enjoy further reading from Travel to Fashion, Business to Sport, discover more
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
The clever way to lease a new car is with Car leasing made simple™
2009
per month on 36-month
Personal Contract Hire (PCH)
2008
42850
Car Insurance
£23,093 - £56,211
The Office for National Statistics
Newport, South Wales
£60,000
The Environment Agency
Bristol
Up to £90K
Boots
Midlands
OTE £85k
Credit Protection Association
Nationwide Opportunities
Completely London
Luxury Condo's in Manhattan with NYC views
The best new homes in Wimbledon?
Nationwide
Fabulous Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers Including Virgin Atlantic Flights Prices Start From Only £699pp!
Last Minute Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers. Med From £499pp, Caribbean From £699pp!
5 star quality at a 3 star price.
8 fabulous Canadian cities ...you won’t find cheaper
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions | E-paper
News International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Property Finder | Milkround
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
I am the biggest Arsenal fan there could ever be. Even if some of our players do go we will have to not waste anytime and we will come back next season. Hleb and Adebyor i hope you make the right decision because next season is ARSENALS SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Come on you gunners!
Joe, London, England
I wish him good luck, let Adebayor go so that Arsenal can acquire more lethal strikes. With the list of young talents we have now, Arsenal will achieve. Last season was his best (30 goals) great!!!. I don't wish him the ways of Anelka, when he left Arsenal then, he regrets it now. Gunners Good luck.
shyshy, Lagos, Nigeria
Nick is right. Jason and Jim are not making any sense. What is the problem if he has a big ego or not? the bottom line is that he has 30 GOALS under his belt, and in football, that is bargaining power. Are you so naive as to think he would stay on 30000 per week with 30 goals? would you? come on!
Tai, Aberdeen, Scotland
his immense ego surfaced when thierry was still at the club, with his dancing round the corner flag routine! cash in on him if anyone's foolish enough to pay over £20m for a striker with no rusthless streak! his 30 goals was a min expected of any forward at arsenal with the chances we create.
jason, london,
If Adebayor had had a bad season, he would be insisting that his contract is honoured and he is paid the amount stated. Because he had a fair season (helping Arsenal to win nothing) he demands a big increase and a new contract. It seems that Arsenal can't win either way. Let the greedy twit go.
Jim Dyer, Shoeburyness, England
If Adebayor was the waste of space you lot seem to think he is, why would eilte clubs like AC Milan and Barcelona be in for him? Let's not forget, he's only just 24, been runner-up in 2 champs league finals and got 30 goals last season. Give him his pay rise and let that be the end of it.
Nick, London, UK
Why keep a frustrated player who has money on his mind. Not worth having a sulky team-mate acting all pretentious and big-headed. Let him seek his destiny as long as the Arsenal board agree to buy into a much-needed all-rounder striker in the box and a playmaker along Cesc Fabregas.
Keith Zammit, Mosta, MALTA
Let him go, it's just like Anelka and look what happened to him!
Bo Hilsted
Bo Hilsted, Humlebæk, Denmark
Let him go...still have Van Persie, Bendtner, Eduardo, Vela and Walcott deserves a chance. Use the money to get a quality first team 'keeper good centre back and someone like Gattuso or Frings in midfield.
kellyboy, chelmsford,
Buy for 5m, sell for a 25m. Arsenal dont lose.
Talent he has got even if he occasionally does not pass or misses open goals. Look at Drogba,Ballack in their 1st season
As for this contract thing, as far as I am concerned, the contracts players and clubs make should be binding unlless both opt out
Talese Amer, London_town,
Adebayor is idolised by most Gooners. It wont be right on his part to leave. But seeing greener pastures he has proved that he plays for money than the love of the game. Adebayor might be doing a Cristiano with Arsenal, but Arsenal can still look forward for a better future without him
Ameya Ghag, Mumbai, India
He's got a 3 year contract, whatever he says Arsenal don't need to let him go. He has history remember his feud with Togo FA before the last World Cup over money? Also he's mimicking what Ronaldo is doing.
Dave, Sydney,
adebayor can leave if he want his not the only player in the world but i bet him henry will be better then him if he leaves.who know him before now,the club has made him he wants to go i realy feel sorry for him, if he gose he is finished.
emmanuel, london, england
The 2 Steves,Bode and Ross are right! He is not a team player and his feud with Bendtner (meaning he rarely gave him the ball) was destabilising and probably cost us the league. Beginning with the Brum game we should have taken all 12 points instead of 4 from the next 4 games.We gave MU the title.
Brian Wildey, Fleurance, France
A person who has just learnt the basics of scoring goals and has missed many where it matters most doesn't really have to wait to next week to decide where he is going!! Even then I dont think he is going away with Arsenal's style. Ask Henry whether he won anything last year...............
Michael, Kampala, Uganda
Hold on to a player of this stature: he is an exceptional talent and proven scorer. Arsenal need to be collecting trophies again, and despite possibility of making big profit in any sale, replacement player has to find his feet. No point coming 2nd or 3rd any more!
eamon flanagan, dublin, ireland
Why is it that arsenal get players no-one has heard of then makes them quality players all teams want and the players than leave. Arsenal fans grow to respect these players who have no respect for us fans or the club. Football is no longer about the sport, players are only there for the money.
Katie, wellingborough, england
Attack, after attack after countless attack ended with a pass to Adebeyor. He may have scored a lot of goals but he wasted so much more. Fine on the end of a cross but has a lot of improvement to make before he could truly be in the Arsenal class. Replace him with someone better Wenger!
Steve, Wimborne, Dorset
What is Catalan for "There goes another chance" and "He's been caught offsside for the 10th time". Barca fans had better get used to it next season
Bode, Borehamwood, UK
Let him and Hleb go. It is really important to have players who have their heart in playing for the club like Cesc and Gael have recently stated. We would not pay £25-30M for Ade, this is good business to take the money and I trust Wenger to replace with same or higher quality at a fraction of price
Steve H, Wokingham, UK
I haven't forgiven Ade for Birmingham. If he lays the ball into Bendtner we win the game and (I think) the league. That was typical of him towards the end of the season, he has grown far to big for his boots - lose him for good money.
Ross, London, England
Don't we already have to put up with one desparately dull transfer saga? Adebayor is a two-thirds-of-a-season wonder so get rid. Wenger could build another XI to go with the present one for £30million and give Arsenal more squad depth.
Phil, London,
Why go to a Club that is not playing Champions League football. Italian football is so last year.
When AC Milan, Inter Milan, Roma and Barcelona, played English clubs in last years Champions League Knockout Games, guess how many goals these Four Euro Super Giants scored.
None!
Moe Glitz, London, England
"At least english players have a bit of loyalty."
Not at all true, it's just that when English players reach a big 4 club it's something of a ceiling of where their football career can go. Their reluctance to broaden their horizons and play overseas means they stay loyal due to lack of alternatives
Angus, Adelaide, Australia
Let him go! never scored in a meaningful game, lacks any killer instinct, cost us champions league at Anfield.
Lets be clear he aint no Henry he damm sure isnt a Bergkamp and he never will be worldclass.
One good game against AC Milans 40 year old defenders convinced them to buy him..jokers!
Jagga, Slough, UK
What a wonderful world of make believe Adebeyor lives in ! He readily signed and entered in to a contract. The fans pay his obscene wages. He signed, he's entitled to his pay, the club - and us - are entitled to loyalty and trust.
Phil, Scunthorpe, England
Adebayor should be sold. 20+ millions is good enough for me. He has had just one good season playing regular football. Arsenal already has a big lad Bendtner who is brilliant in headers and much better technically. Bendtner is also available when African players are often away in January.
Jokke, Hameenlinna, Finland
The football "graveyard" is full of ex Arsenal players who thought the grass and money were greener elsewhere. A "where are they now" would take forever but just a few Edu, Wiltord, Anelka Overmars et al all off the major football radar when they went and Ade will be the same.Take the money Arsene.
Dave, worcester, UK
These comments defy reason. He was the second highest scorer in the Premiership, and you don't do that by luck. He scored 9 more than Berbatov, and his shots / goals ratio is more clinical than Ronaldo, slightly second to Torres. Having seen him play, his energy and movement are superb.
Gareth, London, United Kingdom
If he wants to go let him. Im sick of these players comming to Arsenal as unknowns then jumping ship as soon as a 'Bigger' club comes in for them. I'd play for arsenal for nothing! Wenger: do us all a favor and stop signing overseas players: At least english players have a bit of loyalty.
Zod, Henley on thames, England
I think it would be good business if Arsenal get20mil for ade as clearly they can buy better replacements.Ade did well but he is the kind of striker who needs four chances to score one and in the end and in crucial games last season,his misses cost the team dearly.
brian kandiye, harare, zimbabwe
Anyone who knows Arsenal knows that Ade loves the club and the fans love Ade. The only possible reason he could want to leave is cos he's not getting paid enough and if it's true he's on £30K p/w then there's your answer: he's fishing for a better contract. The only question is: does AW want him?
Nick, London, UK
Get one of the following in, Etoo, Villa, Guiza or Podolski. In an Arsenal team they would garantee you 20 plus goals a year. Adebayor for 30 million? Bite their arm off! Plus after playing 3 or 4 bad games he will only start getting booed and maybe racially insulted by Barca fans. Gracies, Adeu!
Ricky, london, uk
Where Adebayor and his fellow superstars have it all wrong is where he thinks that he and his agent will "sit down and work out what is best for his career", not realising that they will work out what is best for the agent's career!
Alan, Johannesburg, South Africa
Remember - at the end of the season Ade was pledging his undying fealty to Arsenal, after having played ONE good season and being handsomely rewarded for it. I think the criticism of him is warranted; and he may find - as so many others before him - that the grass is not always greener elsewhere.
Edmund Simpson, Cologne, Germany
When will football supporters wake up and smell the coffee, footballers are like the rest of us, if you pay me £1000 per week to play football and someone else offers to pay me £5000 per week, its not rocket science as to where I will play.
Milan...London...tough choice !!
David SMITH, Chelmsford, Essex
Arsene, sign Santa Cruz from Blackburn, quickly!
Ed, newcastle, uk
Yet again an Arsenal player in the "will he stay, will he go" spotlight. He may be the best, or he may be over-rated, but one thing is likely to be true for him as for every other one in his position: if he hasn't the inner commitment to stay, he will destabilise the team. Let him go!
Michael Preston, Orangeburg, NY, USA
Have to say I dont appreciate the derogatory remarks heaped on Ade by previous bloggers. The man gave alot during his time at Ars. and was last seasons 2nd highest marksman in the PL. Sure, like everyone else he had his off days but that doesnt take away the fact that he was quality.Wish all d best.
jonas, liverpool, uk
just go adebayor. he has to be the most over-rated striker in the premiership. he wastes a number of great chances, then scores from the work of other players like hleb and walcott. wenger should sell him and should have enoough money to buy two top quality players
Z, dhaka, bangladesh
Good. Now he can underwhelm the unfortunate Milanese or Barcaleros and let Arsenal get on with finding a clinical finisher who doesn't need a map to find the back of the net. Thankfully silly money and faint praise does the job just as well as giving him the sack. Huge blow? Just the opposite. Phew!
Rick Spalding, Hong Kong,
Oh please, make my day - and my season - and just go! The Gunners have no need for a five legged camel. Why Wenger played him is quite beyond me. If he didn't fallover before he got the ball then he fell over when releasing it (or, more likely, losing it)!
Edwin, Bucharest,