Emmanuel Adebayor completes £22m Manchester City move - but holds out for £2m loyalty bonus from Arsenal
Published 22:14 18/07/09 By By Darren Lewis
Emmanuel Adebayor last night completed his £22million move to Manchester City - but remains locked in a battle with Arsenal over his £2m loyalty bonus.
The Togo striker is adamant he is due the cash from the Gunners because he did not put in a transfer request.
It is a demand that will leave Arsenal fans stunned as it was Adebayor's apparent lack of commitment that soured their relationship with him.
The 25-year-old hit just 16 goals last season - as he courted the attentions of AC Milan - compared to the season before in which he smashed 30.
Adebayor - who will pick up £170,000-a-week at City - said his goodbyes to the Arsenal players and staff at the Gunners' London Colney training ground yesterday.
He then travelled to Manchester to finalise the paperwork to complete the deal.
Adebayor's wages at Eastlands will be around double what he was earning at the Emirates, with his agents set to pick up around £2m for their "services".
But he is determined to squeeze Arsenal for one last pay day as revenge for agreeing the deal while he was on holiday in Togo.
It is believed the shocked striker initially threatened to dig his heels in and refuse to join City after being told a fee had been agreed for him and that he had to leave.
He later relented after realising he had no future at the Emirates.
Andrey Arshavin is confident Arsenal can win the Champions League next season - even without Adebayor.
The Gunners' £15m Russian hitman said: "To win the Champions League means everything. We nearly did it last season, and I do not see big problems.
"Adebayor is an excellent striker. Everybody knows him and he can score from nothing. But we have Arsene Wenger. He knows if we need someone, then he will buy."
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