Despite securing a dream transfer to Liverpool back in 2010, Jonjo Shelvey has revealed the one negative factor about his move to Merseyside.
Shelvey put pen to paper in a deal worth around £1.7 million in May of 2010, bringing an end to his two-year tenure with Charlton Athletic.
The central midfielder would go on to spend several years at the club, racking up 69 appearances before transferring to Swansea City in the summer of 2013.
Whilst he failed to win any form of silverware during his time on Merseyside, Shelvey came close during the 2011–12 season when the Reds fell short in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea.
Speaking on the Under The Cosh podcast, Shelvey revealed that he wasn’t actually allowed to train with Liverpool after he signed a pre-contract with the club, which he claims was the toughest part of the move.
“I went up to Liverpool whilst the season was still going on at Charlton, we were in the play-offs. I signed a pre-contract [with Liverpool], but I wasn’t allowed to play for Charlton in the play-offs. I wasn’t even allowed to train.
I remember going out to train once at Sparrow’s Lane [Charlton’s training ground] and the physio came running out, saying ‘What are you doing? You’re not allowed to train in case you get injured and f—k the deal up.
I ended up spending three months on my sofa and running around the street. Charlton said there’s no point coming in, just come to the games. It was a hard time, I was only 17 and I just wanted to play football.”
As he approaches his 34th birthday, Shelvey now plies his trade for UAE Second Division outfit Arabian Falcons who currently sit 9th in the table.
