Former Aston Villa forward, Gabriel Agbonlahor has opened up about the time he was forced to train with the under 18s under Roberto Di Matteo.
Agbonlahor began and finished his career with the Villains, making 341 appearances across 13 years, scoring 76 goals.
Di Matteo was Villa’s first manager following relegation in tragic circumstances.
New owner, Dr Tony Xia made the Italian coach his first appointment due to the Championship promotion and Champions League win on his CV.
It is safe to say, it wasn’t a successful appointment.
Despite nine new signings, at a near £60 million spend, Di Matteo was sacked after four months in charge.
What has Gabriel Agbonlahor said about Roberto Di Matteo?
Despite being Villa’s all time Premier League goal scorer, Di Matteo didn’t want the Englishman as part of his squad.
The Italian opted for Ross McCormack, Jonathan Kodjia and Rudy Gestede as forward options.
What happened to Agbonlahor then?: “I was sent to train with the Under-18s under Roberto Di Matteo. It’s not a nice feeling.”
There were some reports that the forward had some attitude issues, being left out of squads under previous managers also.
That being said, the Villa boy debunked this: “I didn’t do anything at all. The season had started and had done a whole pre-season with Di Matteo.
“He said ‘I want you to go, Reading and Rangers are interested.”
In the end, Agbonlahor stayed and Di Matteo went.
A tongue and cheek statement from Gabby, saying: “I’ll see you out’ and I did.
“That’s what I said to him ‘I’ll see you out’. Off you pop, Roberto.”
Agbonlahor wrote his name further into Villa folklore as he made just his 12th appearance of the season against Birmingham City.
23rd April 2017, with just two games left the season, he came on and won the Second City Derby as he always has done.
Fair to say that Gabby had the last laugh.
