The manner in which Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is reportedly leaving Arsenal for Chelsea doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows who is agent is: Aidy Ward.
You’ve probably heard the name Aidy Ward because he’s also, strangely enough, Raheem Sterling’s agent.
When Sterling left Liverpool for Manchester City in 2015, the Merseyside club were unhappy with the aggressive approach Ward took in orchestrating the move.
Sterling firstly turned down a new deal with the club and then Ward allegedly told the winger to give an interview to the BBC in which he claimed that he wasn’t a ‘money-grabber’, which Liverpool manager at the time, Brendan Rodgers, slammed the agent for.
“You are not a 20-year-old boy and you pick up the phone and ask to speak to the BBC,” said Rodgers. “You don’t do it. Him in particular. But, of course, if he is asked to do that by other parties then that is what he’ll do.”
Ward himself then gave an interview to the London Evening Standard, saying, “I don’t care about the PR of the club and the club situation. I don’t care.
“He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700, £800, £900 thousand a week. He is not signing.
“My job is to make sure I do the best with them (my clients). If people say I am bad at my job, or they are badly advised it does not matter.”
He also branded Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher, a ‘k**b’.
This is reportedly why Liverpool pulled out of the running to sign the Ox: Aidy Ward. They now refuse to associate with him.
It also makes a lot of sense when you consider the Ox’s attitude towards Arsenal since last season. The 24-year-old’s lack of loyalty and respect for a manager who stood by him for six injury-laden years is disappointing. I suspect that his agent has a hand in it.
Can just imagine Aidy Ward walking back into Colney with Sterling the day after leaving with Ox. "Hi Arsene, no hard feeling yeah."
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) August 29, 2017
This is also why it would be so odd for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to sign for Chelsea for £40m and then another one of Ward’s clients, Sterling, move to north London from City.
It should be noted that while some claim that the Ox is no longer represented by Ward, the Daily Star reported that he was less than two months ago.