Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says he was 'hung out to dry' and made to be a 'scapegoat' by Leeds United.
The former Whites striker spent two seasons at Leeds before leaving to join Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. However, the 1998/99 Premier League golden boot winner insists that he never wanted to depart Elland Road.
Hasselbaink was signed by George Graham, but the Dutchman believes he was never truly rated by Graham's successor, David O'Leary, which played a big role in his exit.
"I didn't want to leave," Hasselbaink told Kammy and Ben's Proper Football Podcast.
"I had a great time and I wanted to sign a new contract, a longer contract. I had two years left and I was in line to get a new contract, I was doing well. When I came, nobody knew me so my contract was that of an unknown player, but two years later players were getting new contracts.
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"They offered me a new contract but it wasn't great. I wasn't one of David O'Leary's favourites. He took over and I think he wanted to get his own team.
"Chelsea came in for me, but they didn't want to sell me to Chelsea. I told them what the going rate was for my contract and that I wanted to sign, but they said no. I said OK, then I want to go. They told me that if I wanted to go then I'd have to hand in a transfer request, but you all know the hoo-hah that comes with a transfer request.
"I asked for the transfer request, and then they hung me out to dry. There was no way back.
"It didn't have to go that way. If David O'Leary didn't want me or I wasn't in his plans then he could have said that and we could have found a solution. I was well liked by the fans, and they needed a scapegoat, and the scapegoat I was."
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