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Former Asante Kotoko defender Shilla Illiasu has revealed that Alhaji Grusah’ stubbornness cost him a move to English Premier League side Arsenal FC.
Illiasu who was a kingpin in Ghana’s 2006 World Cup squad attracted a gross interest from then Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger following his splendid form in the mundial.
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But the deal fell through despite a successful trails with the English Premier League giant due to the ‘stubbornness’ of former club President Alhaji Grusah.
Speaking to Accra based Asempa FM, the former Asante Kotoko defender narrated how Alhaji Grusah cost him his dream move to the London based club.
“Arsene Wenger told me that he had monitored me against Czech Republic (at the World Cup) and believes that I’m one of the best defenders in Africa. He told me he wanted to sign me to Arsenal to help his team”.
“I started training with them and after the third training session, the agent called and confirmed Wenger was impressed and wanted to sign me”.
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“Later, the agent called and requested that I speak with Alhaji Grunsah because he was being stubborn”.
“And that I should also engage Kotoko, Kwabena Kesse (Kessben) was then the CEO”.
“I remember I spoke to him and Mr Kesse told me they were still in talks with Arsenal and assured me my future remained the central focus”.
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Explaining how the deal fell through, Shilla Illiasu said that, “It was later that I realised that Alhaji was the biggest problem. He personally wrote a letter to Arsenal telling them that I was his bonafide property.
“So the agent asked what is Alhaji saying. The agent asked me that can’t you talk to Alhaji because he is trying to bring problem”.
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“Because Alhaji wrote to Arsenal that I was his bonafide property and that time too I was a Kotoko player”.
“What I know is that Alhaji had a percentage, my transfer from King Faisal to Kotoko wasn’t an outright deal so Alhaji had a percentage (stake) in me”.
“So when the Arsenal deal was to go through, Kotoko was trying to tell Alhaji he was getting close to nothing from the deal and Alhaji also did his things” he narrated.
“So these are some of the things I feel sad to remember. Its not easy, I remember shedding tears over this in a radio interview sometime back”, he concluded.
