Chelsea legend, 34, wakes up unemployed after stunning U-turn on new deal to leave on free transfer
FORMER Chelsea star Willian has woken up unemployed.
That’s after refusing to sign a new Fulham contract.
ReutersWillian is now a free agent after his Fulham contract expired[/caption]
The Brazilian winger, 34, set the Premier League alight last term following his shock return to England on a one-year deal.
Willian scored five goals and bagged five assists in 27 games as the Cottagers secured a top-half finish.
The two-time Premier League winner with Chelsea went on to be named Fulham’s Player of the Season.
And a contract extension for Willian was expected to be a formality.
However, the veteran sensationally rejected Fulham’s final offer on Friday.
It’s reckoned Willian was not happy with the “unsatisfactory” wages on the table.
And he is now officially a free agent after his Craven Cottage deal expired.
Willian is said to be in talks with several Premier League clubs over a fresh start.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
But it’s certain that he will not go back to Brazil after a torrid time at Corinthians.
Willian said: “Every time Corinthians lost and I hadn’t had a good performance, my family received threats on social networks.
“First my wife and my daughters, later my father, my sister…
“I don’t want to go back to Brazil, ever. I ended up going back to the club where I started because I wanted to and so did Corinthians.
“But I already had the thought of staying in Europe until the end of my career.
“Now my intention is to finish it here, whether in Europe, the United States or anywhere else. If it can be in England it would be perfect.
“A football is not a machine, he has his good and bad days. What happens is that sometimes the fans don’t accept the bad guys.
“What I see in Brazil is sometimes inhuman pressure, which leads to violence, threatening the family, the children…”
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and confirmed switches from the world of football