Costa’s Chelsea stand-off to Mahrez going missing, 10 Prem stars who went on strike after Koscielny disobeys Arsenal
ARSENAL have become the latest club embroiled in a battle against player-power. Laurent Koscielny, their club captain, has been fined by the Gunners after refusing to travel to Los Angeles for the club’s pre-season tour. Bordeaux, Lyon and Rennes have shown interest in signing the 33-year-old centre-back who wants to leave the Emirates FOR FREE. […]
ARSENAL have become the latest club embroiled in a battle against player-power.
Laurent Koscielny, their club captain, has been fined by the Gunners after refusing to travel to Los Angeles for the club’s pre-season tour.
Bordeaux, Lyon and Rennes have shown interest in signing the 33-year-old centre-back who wants to leave the Emirates FOR FREE.
Arsenal are demanding £10million for Koscielny and must now work out how to handle the rebellious defender.
So, what is the usual outcome when Premier League stars have gone on strike?
Riyad Mahrez
What happened?
Claude Puel was left ducking for cover in February last year when Mahrez’s toys came flying out the pram.
The furious Algerian went on a TWO-WEEK strike and missed the first game of the season after Leicester rejected a deadline day bid from Man City.
Outcome?
Mahrez returned to action for the Foxes, scoring crucial goals against Bournemouth and Arsenal, before being sold for £60m that summer.
Winner?
Both. Mahrez eventually got his move while Leicester retained respect and got a record transfer fee.
Diego Costa
What happened?
After that infamous text message from Antonio Conte told Costa his Chelsea career was over, the impassioned striker refused to return from Brazil for pre-season in 2017.
It got ugly as Costa accused the Blues of treating him “like a criminal” as they fined him several weeks’ wages. Footage of him training alone was uploaded to his social media.
Outcome?
Costa left Stamford Bridge for Atletico Madrid in a £57m move in September but had to wait until January to play for the La Liga club due to a transfer ban.
Winner?
Costa, just. Chelsea were never able to replace the indomitable striker – but Costa spent six months in pre-season.
Carlos Tevez
What happened?
Well, there was two. The first was the famous refusal to come on during a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, leaving boss Roberto Mancini furious.
The fallout saw Tevez return to his homeland of Argentina and go AWOL as he sought a move away from the Etihad Stadium.
Outcome?
Such a lengthy absence is said to have cost Tevez £9.3m in wages, bonuses and fines. To much shock, Tevez returned to City and ended up playing for another season and a half.
Winner?
City. They held their nerve and wouldn’t be bullied by the Argentinian’s antics.
Dimitar Berbatov
What happened?
Just like Tevez, Berbatov refused to come on for Tottenham in a league game against November in October 2007. He was outraged that he had been put on the bench.
And, just like Tevez, the Bulgarian went on strike, missing games against Sunderland and Chelsea, as he pushed for a move to Manchester United.
Outcome?
Berba, unlike Tevez, got his wish with a £30.75m move to Old Trafford. Daniel Levy said: “I don’t think Berbatov treated this club with the respect that we honestly deserve.”
Winner?
Berbatov. Tottenham may have got a tasty sum but there was no replacing Berbatov’s brilliance, which only strengthened United.
Kieron Dyer
What happened?
Sir Bobby Robson deployed Dyer on the right side of midfield for Newcastle’s opening game of the season against Middlesbrough in 2004, but the Englishman refused.
Dyer wanted to play central midfield and defied Robson’s orders.
Outcome?
Robson dropped him to the bench, but covered for Dyer saying he was injured. The story leaked and the Toon supporters booed Dyer who was forced to apologise.
Winner?
Neither. Robson was sacked two games later. Following his death in 2009, Dyer said: “If there was one thing I could go back to and erase in my life, it would be that. Just to have played that game.”
Dimitri Payet
What happened?
More toys, more prams, more player power. West Ham had rejected a £20m offer from Marseille for their much-loved, very talented forward Payet.
But the Frenchman’s desperation to leave turned to fury as he reportedly told the club he would “never kick a ball again for West Ham”.
Outcome?
Payet got his wish as the Hammers accepted a £25m offer from Marseille. After the move, he said: “I had given them a warning that I would do it and maybe they thought I wasn’t serious.”
Winner?
Payet. The club relented to the player’s wishes and could have got a higher fee.
Pierre van Hooijdonk
What happened?
Having starred for Holland at the 1998 World Cup, Van Hooijdonk returned to Nottingham Forest determined for a move.
Forest refused and Van Hooijdonk went back to his homeland of Holland — as seems to be the trend here — and trained with his former club, NAC Breda.
Outcome?
Eventually, Forest won this stand-off.. kind of. The strike lasted 12 weeks before Van Hooijdonk returned to see Forest relegated. He was sold to Vitesse Arnhem that summer.
Winner?
Neither. Forest retained respect but went down.
George Best
What happened?
With United third from bottom in 1974, Best missed training sessions due to “personal issues”.
When he did return, a fallout with boss Tommy Docherty saw the United boss refuse to play him and enter a stand-off.
Outcome?
Docherty fined Best two weeks’ wages and put him on the transfer list, bringing an end to his legendary time at Old Trafford.
Winner?
Best, after getting his move away from Old Trafford.
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Paul Scholes
What happened?
Having been left out of United’s side for a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in 2001, Scholes, with his nose out of joint, refused to play against Arsenal in the League Cup.
Outcome?
Fergie’s side were thumped 4-0 by the Gunners.
Winner?
Scholes, simply because he went on to win six Prem titles and a Champions League. The spat was quickly forgotten.
Clint Dempsey
What happened?
Wanted by Liverpool, Aston Villa and Tottenham, American Dempsey was desperate to leave Fulham in the summer of 2012.
After Fulham looked to keep him at the Cottage, Dempsey went on strike and didn’t play the first four games of the season.
Outcome?
Dempsey pushed for the move and Fulham relented as the striker signed for Tottenham in September.
Winner?
Dempsey – and Spurs who got a bargain at £6m.