I give up now - no reasoning with those that despise BenitezAthletic now reporting Bentiez told him early on he wasn't going to play and the club told him they wanted him gone.
Now, I think that view from Benitez could have softened after the window closed (and I think it actually did do), but I don't think James was willing to take the risk.
I don't have an opinion on whether it's right or wrong. James in my view , like any player, has to fight for his place, but he knows what his relationship with Benitez is like and if he thought that however much he played, he wouldn't get a chance, then ultimately it is what it is.
I expect a ton of hit pieces from the usual fanzine writers now about James, and I expect we'll hear something from Mendes/James down the line too. I imagine the truth will be somewhere in the middle. The party I blame the most is the club, though I believe all parties have to shoulder some responsibility.
It's also Qatar, not the UAE. Qatar, about to host one of the most politically contentious but also significant world cups there has been. It's a huge deal. A huge, huge deal, for that league and country.
Why do you think Xavi hasn't hopped off to Barca yet, mate?
Just glad the fraud has gone
I’ve left this discussion ?