Bobby Reid was affected by transfer talk and his pre-season performances for Cardiff City dipped – according to manager Neil Warnock.
The Bluebirds boss – who let striker Reid join Fulham on loan on deadline day – has claimed the player’s form was not up to scratch.
Warnock had hoped to build his team’s bid to return to the top flight around Reid this season, but gave in to pressure in the end and let him go to promotion rivals on a season long loan, with an option to buy.
“I could see Bobby was below par this pre-season since the conversation with the agent. I’m sure he’ll do well for them,” said Warnock.
Fulham, like Cardiff and Huddersfield, the other two relegated sides last season, lost their opening game last weekend and will be looking to Reid, who cost Cardiff £8.5m last summer, to fire their campaign.
“We paid £8.5m for him, not £10m as reported, and if things go well for Bobby at Fulham we will generate about £10m. So we will get more back and do alright out of that deal,” added Warnock.
“It was his agent who got everything rolling. I asked Bobby the situation and he said he would prefer to go to Fulham.
“They are everyone’s favourites to go up, but it doesn’t always work like that and we will try to prove that and move on. I’m happier with the squad now the window has finished.”
Warnock claimed it was Reid’s agent for engineered for the player to move.
But he also insisted he would not let “an individual upset the apple cart” as he rebuilds his side after last season’s relegation from the Premier League.
“It was about three weeks ago that I had a phone call from his agent saying ‘hypothetically if we got a big bid for him would you consider it?’” said Warnock
“I said ‘no, not at all, I’m building a team around him this year, unless you come with £20m, or something silly like that.’ That was it as far I was concerned.
“Then about 10 days to two weeks later he rang me again and said had I’d considered it. So I knew there was something below the surface.
“You wait until you see what’s coming to the top and as it’s turned out it’s Fulham he’s set his heart on going to. I’ve always said if anyone wants to leave my club they always can and I’m not going to change now at my age.
“I was very disappointed, but agents are agents – unless a player moves they don’t get paid, do they? It’s one of those things, and I was very disappointed with the way the agent went about it.”
Cardiff host Luton Town tomorrow and Warnock will hope to have new signings Robert Glatzel, Isaac Vassell and Marlon Pack available to make their debuts.
Joe Day is also set to fill in for the injured Neil Etheridge in goal.
