Michael Verrips has revealed how Sheffield United transfer demands left an official from AEK Athens shouting on the phone and cancelling any transfer deal.
Voetbal Primeur cover comments from the goalkeeper today, made in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, about his failed exit from Sheffield United in 2021.
Verrips joined Sheffield United on a free transfer in 2019 but made just four appearances for the club during his time with them, spending several years out on loan at various clubs before joining FCV Dender EH on a free transfer last year.
He had planned to leave much earlier and had a deal lined up to join AEK Athens in the 2021 summer transfer window after returning from a loan spell at FC Emmen.
The deal ended up collapsing, though, leaving him with Sheffield United until the following January when he joined Fortuna Sittard on loan midway through the month.
There was plenty of annoyance about the failure to join the Greek side, none more from Athens, who were left furious by Sheffield United’s antics during negotiations.
“Sheffield only wanted to loan me out without an option to buy,” he said.
“Someone from Sheffield mentioned that astronomical amount, and the guy from AEK went blank, and I think he was red too.
“He started shouting that it wasn’t possible and that it was outrageous, and then he just hung up. Then I sat there in that Zoom call, looking around. ‘Okay, this conversation clearly wasn’t going well.'”
