Odemwingie opens up on infamous QPR transfer saga

Peter Odemwingie. Credit: Daily Mail

Former Super Eagles forward Peter Odemwingie has claimed that his infamous failed move from West Bromwich Albion to Queens Park Rangers in 2013 was misunderstood, insisting that the full story behind the deadline-day saga was never properly told, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Odemwingie was at the centre of one of the Premier League’s most controversial transfer deadline-day incidents when he was filmed outside QPR’s Loftus Road stadium attempting to force through a move from West Brom.

Reflecting on the saga more than a decade later, the former Nigeria international criticised the way the incident was portrayed, particularly by Sky Sports.

“The problem about this whole story is that nobody is interested in the truth. They just want to be distracted. Sky Sports milked this situation for so many years. I think it’s just wickedness really,” Odemwingie said in a recent interview.

The former West Brom forward also claimed the club introduced a fresh condition late in the negotiations, insisting that QPR midfielder Junior Hoilett had to move in the opposite direction for the deal to go through.

“But then, West Brom also misbehaved that day, saying it was a conditional decision and that Hoilett had to go the other way for the deal to happen,” he said.

“There was no such condition given and they misbehaved.”

Odemwingie, who joined West Brom from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2010, eventually returned to the club after the QPR move collapsed.

He was later reinstated into the squad before leaving for Cardiff City at the end of the 2012/13 season after scoring 30 Premier League goals for the Baggies.

He finished his Premier League career with 37 goals in 127 appearances for West Brom, Cardiff, Stoke City and Bristol City, and was named West Brom’s Player of the Season in 2010/11 after scoring 15 league goals in his debut campaign.

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