Wigan manager Steve Bruce has launched a scathing attack on Manchester City, claiming that the club were responsible for Wilson Palacios leaving the Latics.
Bruce claimed that Palacios wasn’t initially too keen on a move to Spurs, having settled well with his family in Wigan. The Latics were also about to offer Palacios a new deal, and the Honduran was close to putting pen to paper when City’s enquiry came in. This left Palacios in a double mind over whether to stay at the JJB or not.
Bruce also alleged that City had absolutely no interest in signing Palacios and struck an agreement with Tottenham to step aside in their pursuit of Palacios in return for Spurs not interfering in the transfer of Craig Bellamy from West Ham.
They had no intention of signing Palacios. They used the boy as a weapon and used our club as a vehicle just to get Bellamy.
I have to say Manchester City’s behaviour was absolutely disgusting.
If they had not come in a week last Friday and unsettled the boy, he would have signed a contract for us.
The player would have signed. He was wobbling and wasn’t sure about going to London.
We had offered him a contract and he was on the verge of signing that contract. We even went as far as to have the papers drawn up.
Then Manchester City ring him and it’s a different ball game.
Palacios eventually moved to Spurs for £14m.