Milner: Keegan wanted to keep me
by Alex Livie, 30 August 2008
Aston Villa new boy James Milner has claimed Kevin Keegan was desperate to keep him at Newcastle.
Milner left St James’ Park for Villa Park on Friday, with his departure leaving many on Tyneside in a state of bewilderment.
Just a couple of days prior to the midfielder’s departure, Keegan had made it clear he had no intention of selling the England Under-21 star.
Yet, at his press conference on Friday, Keegan insisted the decision to sell Milner was solely his.
It has been suggested the Newcastle powerbrokers felt selling Milner for a fee in the region of £12 million was a good piece of business.
Milner claims he opted to move on after the club failed to offer him a new contract and has suggested Keegan made a late plea for him to stay.
”Kevin Keegan has been fantastic,” said Milner. “He’s been very supportive and we talked about the situation a few times, including last night.
”He wished me all the best and told me he didn’t want to lose me.
”He told me that he wanted to keep me, but the offer was accepted.
”A new contract was never discussed. The club’s valuation of me just wasn’t reflected in the deal I was on and so I felt a transfer request was the right thing to do.”