Former Watford striker Troy Deeney has claimed he missed out on a surprise move to Arsenal in 2020 after refusing to apologize for his ‘cojones’ slash at the club.
Deeney, now on the books at Birmingham, was given the opportunity to move to the Emirates Stadium in the wake of Watford’s relegation from the Premier League.
However, he had previously made unwanted headlines after questioning Arsenal’s character following their loss to the Hornets during Arsene Wenger’s final campaign.
After his club fell into the Championship, Deeney’s comments came back to bite him in spectacular fashion, with Gunners supporters mocking him relentlessly.
To end the feud and seal a move to north London, the now 34-year-old was asked to row back on his criticism in a phone call with an official.
Troy Deeney has claimed he missed out on a move to Arsenal in 2020 after previous comments
Deeney (left) took aim at Arsenal’s ‘cojones’ after beating them with Watford in October 2017
Speaking on the Filthy Fellas podcast, the striker revealed he refused to apologize for the jibe
But Deeney has revealed he wasn’t willing to bury the hatchet.
Speak on the Filthy Fellas Podcasthe said, “You know I was about to sign [for Arsenal]. The year I was relegated.
“We lost at Arsenal 3-2, me and Welbz (Danny Welbeck) scored, we probably could have beat you, it was that COVID year, behind closed doors.
“We got relegated on that day, this is at Arsenal, and everyone was like ‘Ahhh cojones!’ and whatever, “shut up man”.
“Then, back in practice, I’m just on the bike because my knee isn’t right. Somebody from Arsenal calls, like, “Yo, would you go to Arsenal? But what you gotta do, you gotta apologize for that comment.” I said I wouldn’t apologize for that.’
Deeney finally joined his boyhood club Birmingham City in 2021.
However, Tottenham were also interested in Deeney that same summer, with Jose Mourinho having identified the frontman as a potential back-up to Harry Kane.
Deeney relentlessly questioned Arsenal’s character and reluctance to compete physically
After the surprising switch to the Emirates failed to materialize, the trump card went to Birmingham
Jose Mourinho was also keen to sign Deeney at Tottenham Hotspur, but opted for another target instead
Nevertheless, the switch again failed to materialize after Spurs looked elsewhere.
“I drove down to the south of France, it was still COVID times, you couldn’t really fly and stuff,” Deeney added. And my agent calls, “Watford wants to get rid of you.”
“I’m literally like, “Me?” Keep in mind I ride in shorts because I can’t put on pants, my knee is huge [from an injury he was playing through].
“My knee is swelling and you want to talk to get rid of me now? Taking into account the past four months I have not been paid! Because I told them to keep it, make sure the staff gets paid. So now I took everything personally.
“Anyway, I’ve settled in for a week, come back and they’re like, ‘Do you want to talk to me?’ [Jose] Mourinho at Spurs?
“If you remember when the season ended in July and when we got right back into it, it was a quick turnaround. Shall I speak to Mourinho? Of course I do, it’s Jose, what do you mean? Like, who isn’t going to talk to Mourinho?’
In the end, Deeney missed with Spurs picking up Carlos Vinicius from Benfica.