Aaron Ramsdale reveals brutal comment by Sheffield Utd chief made him quit club

Aaron Ramsdale reveals how a brutal comment from the Sheffield Utd chief made him quit the club just before he signed for Arsenal.

The Gunners goalkeeper left Bramall Lane last summer and made the switch to the Emirates in a £30m transfer deal in August following the Blades’ relegation from the Premier League.

The 23-year-old has since become Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper and has been praised for a string of impressive performances this season.

Ramsdale has spoken out on making move from Sheffield to London, while having a talk with Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster on his Fozcast podcast.

Upon hearing of Arsenal’s approach to sign him after the Championship season had started, Ramsdale said: “I got told on the day of a game that a bid had come in, and I decided to play. Sheffield United knew that and then after the game, they rejected it.

“I won’t name a name and I hope my agent doesn’t see this as I might get in trouble, but normally if you don’t get your move, you’re rewarded with a new contract.

“It’s not set in stone but that’s normal, you saw it at Brentford with Ollie Watkins when he didn’t move.

“So we said that and someone at the club, I won’t name names, said: ‘We didn’t ask him to take less money when he was conceding goals at the start of last year.’

“That’s when I basically went: ‘I won’t play against West Brom, do what you want.’

“I didn’t train for the first two days of the week, the Monday and Tuesday and the manager was like: ‘He’ll be alright, he’ll play.’

“Tuesday came and I was like: ‘No, I’m not playing.’ On the Wednesday I wasn’t in the squad and then 10 minutes before kick-off I was on my way down.

“I said to them [United] from the start you know I am going to try my best for the football club and if they don’t put the money up then I’m here, I’m ready to do it, I’ve bought a house, I’m here.

“But then when you say one thing about a substantial bid coming in, and then turn it down, there’s got to be a middle ground. And when that comment got made…”

Arsenal’s transfer business was called into question following the signing of Ramsdale, who had previously suffered successive relegations with Bournemouth and Sheffield United.

However, the England international has emphatically answered his critics after replacing Bernd Leno as Arsenal’s No 1 goalkeeper.

Ramsdale has conceded just 16 goals in his 17 Premier League games this season, keeping nine clean sheets.

His form has helped thrust Arsenal into contention for Champions League football next season, with Mikel Arteta’s side currently fourth in the Premier League.

The Gunners were next due to face Liverpool in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Thursday.

However, the match has now been postponed until the 13th of January following a Covid outbreak in the Liverpool camp.

Twitter users reacted as Aaron Ramsdale reveals the brutal comment by Sheffield Utd chief that made him quit the club…

@Mad_Madueke: Aaron Ramsdale’s interview with Ben Foster is class, seeing a whole new side to him – I can definitely relate more seeing into his personal life & his journey

@MattChReport: The Ben Foster podcast with Aaron Ramsdale is brilliant, love an honest insight into the football world rather than PR bollocks

@haydenstanden: That Aaron Ramsdale and Ben Foster podcast was top class, two great guys with a great chat and super interesting to listen to

@18jc2__: Watching Ben Foster’s latest videos where he is on the podcast with Aaron Ramsdale. Ramsdale seems like a class lad with a great personality, looking forward to the full episode of the podcast. Good luck to the lad, probably not far from being England’s number 1 aswell

@RugbyRichard: Great keeper and bloke. Spent time chatting to me at, ironically, the Emirates, when @afcbournemouth were playing there and he was on loan at Wimbledon. Stood in the crowd and led the chants when he was injured. We all knew he was brilliant long before he went to Arsenal.

@samblade103: Fair to say he’s not too popular in Sheffield after this interview

@chrislepkowski: Best British keeper to emerge for a generation. An absolute steal for Arsenal

@sambo593: His personality has shone through, in his performances for the Arsenal this season. I’m sure there’s more to come, hopefully will be Arsenal and England number 1 for years to come …

@scuba178: He threw the ball in his own net for 3 months yet expected a new contract only 1 year into his deal an then threw his toys out the pram when someone put him in his place good riddance about time clubs stood up to players

@Joey0114: Absolutely delusional these days but I suppose that’s how it is these days! Forms only temporary and when he hits a bad bit of form the Arsenal fans won’t stand by him like we did and it can get toxic very quickly at that club but he says in the interview he’s done his research

@Tha_Oscar_Mic: Always funny how some people can blame the keeper for the amount of goals conceded. I for one am happy they took that piss! #COYG

@harrymills78: Hmm. Some things are best kept in house. No need to go public on such things, no winners here. Maybe he was only trying to hang the board out to dry here, but has pissed the blades fans off in the process. Sigh

@jerseyruss65: Players are getting further and further away from the fans agree lost all respect for him

@benscribbles: After hearing this, I’m just glad he’s gone. Refusing to play is unforgivable.

@nathanmyates: He was good second half of last season and don’t blame him for getting a big move. But from a really poor side struggling to get points last season for 3-4 months Ramsdale cost us every game. Can’t blame the club for trying to financially benefit

@simonhealy1968: Liked AR until I heard this interview, poor attitude refusing to play, considering SU developed him as a youngster bought him back for a serious amount of £.In life it’s sometimes best to keep your mouth shut you got your move but lost your credibility with lots of blades fans.

@etherton_sam: I backed you when you acted like a piece of kitchen roll rather than a goalkeeper between the sticks for 6 months, I wished you well when you left and now see this and now I realise you’re just a big baby when it comes to the crunch. Never been a Blade.