Club owner admits he apologised to player he tried to sell to Fulham – Won’t repeat deadline day drama

Lyon owner John Textor has admitted he has apologised to winger Ernest Nuamah after trying to sell him to Fulham.

RMC Sport cover comments from the American businessman today in which he explains he was culpable for the deadline day drama involving the Fulham target.

Nuamah appeared to be on the verge of a late move to Fulham after Lyon had made it clear to him, they wanted to sell him late in the window.

A deal was close to being done but then collapsed on deadline day when the player refused to move to Craven Cottage.

It was later explained that Nuamah had made the extraordinary decision to go AWOL during his medical, disappearing and becoming uncontactable despite a Fulham delegation waiting for him to complete a medical and his move.

Those reports detailed how Nuamah had never wanted the move and was in tears at the prospect, as he wants to play in Europe at Lyon.

He was instead being forced out of the French club, with Textor and his team pushing him away to help balance the books.

Reports later detailed how Textor had apologised over the affair, and he’s now confirmed as much publicly.

“He didn’t want to leave,” he said.

“I contacted Ernest (Nuamah) very quickly, I apologised, I learned a lot. He is a very valuable person. These kinds of decisions make players say that OL is a big club with extraordinary facilities, we are in the Europa League.”