Adrien Silva speaks out on “difficult” transfer saga

Having missed out on a summer transfer to Leicester City last August, Adrien Silva reveals that he had to make a lot of sacrifices to make the move from Sporting Lisbon happen.

He was subject to a £22 million move to the Foxes following the departure of former midfielder Danny Drinkwater to Chelsea on the last day of  the summer transfer window.

However, the documents including the logistics of the transfer and contract did not make its way to the FA until 14 seconds after the deadline had passed meaning that the transfer could only go through once the market reopens in January.

Silva has since spoke out on what was a challenging time for the midfielder.

"Speaking in an interview with Rádio e Televisão de Portugal  he said:  “The negotiations for my transfer to Leicester were very difficult.“I had to compromise with Sporting, I don’t want to get into details because that’s between me and the club, but I want to make it clear that I had to give up things, so the negotiations could go ahead.”"

He later claimed that he felt he had “a lot of desire to talk about the injustice”   at the time of the transfer, but was later calmed down by his friends and peers. 

The 28-year-old has not played a first team match since Sporting’s 5-0 win over V Guimaraes last August, however despite his frustration Silva believes the situation will only make him stronger.

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"“I felt a great disillusionment from everything that happened, especially as I was not responsible,” Silva said.  “The negotiations came too late, it was the last day of the window, Leicester were selling a player, (Danny) Drinkwater to Chelsea and as soon as that transfer went through, we could then work on mine. ”"

With Silva unable to play, his thoughts soon turned to the affects the transfer could make on his international career and whether Portugal manager Fernando Santos would continue to select him.

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"“Fernando Santos told me to be calm and to prepare for when I get back to playing in January, he added.  “I started to think about whether I would be going to the World Cup? It’s something that is in my head all the time and I am  working hard to ensure that I’m in the best condition.”"

He scored the winner from the spot in Portugal’s Confederations Cup 3rd place playoff against Mexico last year and was heavily involved with the national team up until the move.

New manager Claude Puel recently tipped the Portuguese to hit the ground running once he returned to action and believes the addition will give his Leicester side the boost they need.

When Silva was asked about his Leicester City experience so far, he said he was very well received by everyone at the club. Even if the first few weeks at his new team were especially hard.

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"“I could not train with my teammates for the first few weeks, he explained.  “Instead I trained with my brother and it was only after that I ended up joining the first team. I am always doing extra work after training to compensate for the lack of game time.”"

The former Sporting captain spent a total nine years at his boyhood club, while making 127 first team appearances as well as scoring 32 goals in the process.

"“It was an emotional farewell; the fans there, never forget what the players leave on the field, he revealed. “I spent half my life at that club, Sporting will always be my home and I hope to finish my career there or to play other roles at the club.”"