Neil Warnock speaks out amid Emiliano Sala transfer concerns

Neil Warnock speaks out amid Emiliano Sala transfer concerns and insists Cardiff City will solve dispute


Thursday 21st February 2019



Neil Warnock has addressed some of the concerns raised around him and Cardiff City that have been made in the wake of the Emiliano Sala transfer dispute and insisted the Bluebirds will resolve the issue.

The Cardiff boss defended the role of his agent son James and some of the deals he's been involved in, which were the subject of a story in the Daily Mail.

And while Warnock was confident Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman would resolve the wrangle with Nantes over Sala's £15million transfer fee, he did defend the club's transfer dealings.

James Warnock works for Unique Sports Management, who represent Sean Morrison among other Cardiff players.

"I feel sorry for James if I'm honest," he said.

"Morrison was mentioned, but we turned down £5million from Sheffield Wednesday so it was a sensible thing to put him on a longer contract.

"Young Rhys Healey was mentioned, who I think has got a good future in the game.

"All the other players were at the club before I was at the club.

"It mentioned me signing Zaha for Palace, I don't think that was a bad signing for £6million when he's worth about £60million now… it’s what people write I suppose."

Warnock reneged on his claim that there had been a "vendetta" against him in the media, having previously denied a tie-in with agent Willie McKay - something which has been written about at length.









Neil Warnock has defended his link with controversial football agent Willie McKay


But he was tight-tipped on McKay's recent comments in the press.

He added: "Vendetta was probably the wrong word really. I just think a couple of journalists over the last 15 years when I look at the columns that have been written, it’s not journalism, but hey ho."

The Cardiff boss admitted "certain things shouldn't have been done" in the Sala dispute.

He confirmed Nantes have agreed to allow Cardiff to delay the first down payment of £5million of the Sala money.

The Ligue 1 club want the fee to be paid in full, though Cardiff bosses have repeatedly stated they want to complete an investigation, seek legal advice and clarify some of the facts surrounding the situation.

Latest media reports have suggested Sala's contract with Cardiff was invalid, with others claiming Sala's family could miss on on £600,000 because of the contract "mistake".

But the Welsh club have always maintained Sala wasn't officially registered as a Bluebirds player, despite a mutual agreement to announce the transfer on January 19.

Legal letters have been exchanged between the clubs, according to reports.








Warnock said Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman would deal with everything "in the right way."

"They’ve asked for an extension (to pay the fee) and Nantes have agreed to that," said Warnock.

"In reflection, certain things have been done which shouldn't have been done.

"It created stories that it shouldn't have done. It should have been kept between clubs.

"All I can talk about is the football side. I’m convinced Mehmet will bring this to a conclusion."


Warnock also reflected on his visit to Argentina to pay his respects to at Sala's funeral. Along with chief executive Ken Choo, he joined Sala's family in Santa Fe last weekend for the wake.


"They’re a very close knit community, everybody came to the wake in the local village hall," he said.

"I’ve never seen anything like it.

"People coming up all the time to the mother, I don’t know how she coped really.

"They were talking about when (Sala) was four years old, seven years old. She was crying her eyes out and it was one of those days, it was non-stop. I think at the end when we went to the crematorium she had a bit of closure.

"I've no doubt was the right thing to do, but it was an experience being there to see

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Neil Warnock speaks out amid Emiliano Sala transfer concerns and insists Cardiff City will solve dispute


Thursday 21st February 2019



Neil Warnock has addressed some of the concerns raised around him and Cardiff City that have been made in the wake of the Emiliano Sala transfer dispute and insisted the Bluebirds will resolve the issue.

The Cardiff boss defended the role of his agent son James and some of the deals he's been involved in, which were the subject of a story in the Daily Mail.

And while Warnock was confident Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman would resolve the wrangle with Nantes over Sala's £15million transfer fee, he did defend the club's transfer dealings.

James Warnock works for Unique Sports Management, who represent Sean Morrison among other Cardiff players.

"I feel sorry for James if I'm honest," he said.

"Morrison was mentioned, but we turned down £5million from Sheffield Wednesday so it was a sensible thing to put him on a longer contract.

"Young Rhys Healey was mentioned, who I think has got a good future in the game.

"All the other players were at the club before I was at the club.

"It mentioned me signing Zaha for Palace, I don't think that was a bad signing for £6million when he's worth about £60million now… it’s what people write I suppose."

Warnock reneged on his claim that there had been a "vendetta" against him in the media, having previously denied a tie-in with agent Willie McKay - something which has been written about at length.









Neil Warnock has defended his link with controversial football agent Willie McKay


But he was tight-tipped on McKay's recent comments in the press.

He added: "Vendetta was probably the wrong word really. I just think a couple of journalists over the last 15 years when I look at the columns that have been written, it’s not journalism, but hey ho."

The Cardiff boss admitted "certain things shouldn't have been done" in the Sala dispute.

He confirmed Nantes have agreed to allow Cardiff to delay the first down payment of £5million of the Sala money.

The Ligue 1 club want the fee to be paid in full, though Cardiff bosses have repeatedly stated they want to complete an investigation, seek legal advice and clarify some of the facts surrounding the situation.

Latest media reports have suggested Sala's contract with Cardiff was invalid, with others claiming Sala's family could miss on on £600,000 because of the contract "mistake".

But the Welsh club have always maintained Sala wasn't officially registered as a Bluebirds player, despite a mutual agreement to announce the transfer on January 19.

Legal letters have been exchanged between the clubs, according to reports.








Warnock said Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman would deal with everything "in the right way."

"They’ve asked for an extension (to pay the fee) and Nantes have agreed to that," said Warnock.

"In reflection, certain things have been done which shouldn't have been done.

"It created stories that it shouldn't have done. It should have been kept between clubs.

"All I can talk about is the football side. I’m convinced Mehmet will bring this to a conclusion."


Warnock also reflected on his visit to Argentina to pay his respects to at Sala's funeral. Along with chief executive Ken Choo, he joined Sala's family in Santa Fe last weekend for the wake.


"They’re a very close knit community, everybody came to the wake in the local village hall," he said.

"I’ve never seen anything like it.

"People coming up all the time to the mother, I don’t know how she coped really.

"They were talking about when (Sala) was four years old, seven years old. She was crying her eyes out and it was one of those days, it was non-stop. I think at the end when we went to the crematorium she had a bit of closure.

"I've no doubt was the right thing to do, but it was an experience being there to see

So sala wasnt a cardiff player so warnock said

Welsh fa say Sala is registered as a Cardiff player




However, the PFA is reported to be set to push for the pension fund "to honour the payment as Sala had signed a contract with Cardiff on January 18".

The Premier League registration is separate to the International Transfer Certificate, which was completed after Sala’s move to Cardiff from Nantes. That was registered with the Football Association of Wales and confirmed him as a Cardiff player, leaving the club liable to pay Nantes the transfer fee.


John Bramhall, the PFA deputy chief executive, told The Times: "It will be for the trustees to see whether they are able to make the payment from there. Normally it would be a simple process but we will be speaking with them on this. Usually, as soon as a contract is registered with the Premier League the player is enrolled on the pension scheme."


Argentinian striker Sala died after the plane he was flying in crashed into the English Channel on January 21. His funeral took place in Argentina at the weekend.

Warnock has also said this week and three previous occasions: "Emiliano Sala is my player and is a Cardiff City player."

Grange end1927 are you going to copy and paste that into every Sala related post?

Warnock has also said this week and three previous occasions: "Emiliano Sala is my player and is a Cardiff City player."

Still think it means STYLE of player he goes for and will fit in at the club.

We need to make up our minds?

Do we continue to say Emiliano Sala was a Cardiff player or not?

We need to make up our minds?

Do we continue to say Emiliano Sala was a Cardiff player or not?

To be fully considered as a Cardiff City player from a fans point of view he would have to at least played one game for the club. Morally he was a Bluebird but whether he was legally and physically is open to debate.