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Unless you support a team like Real Madrid or Barcelona it is a fact of life that key players will leave your club once in a while.
Evertonians are all too aware of this footballing reality - they are already steeling themselves for the possible exit of John Stones for example.
For new Aston Villa owner Dr Tony Xia though, it seems to be a rather difficult concept to take.
When faced with the news that Idrissa Gueye is set to leave Villa for Everton, a fuming Dr Tony took to Twitter:
Once someone has clause in contract, looks like being giving a chance to betray. Said staying one day and escaped the other day. D now G!
— Dr. Tony Xia (@Dr_TonyXia) July 29, 2016
Oh dear.
The ‘D’ he is referring to could be Fabian Delph, who initially rejected a move to Man City last summer before changing his mind a few days later.
The ‘G’ is, of course, Gueye, who had a relegation release clause in his contract.
In yet another example of the chronic mis-management Villa has suffered from in recent years, the £7.1m release fee in Gueye’s contract is reportedly £1.9m less than what they paid for him just 12 months ago.
Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo has confirmed that he is powerless to stop the 26-year-old from leaving the club after Everton triggered the release fee.
Di Matteo said:
“There are other clubs interested. But the only official bid so far has been Everton.
“The fact that he is leaving is down to the clause he had in his contract.
“Otherwise there would have been no chance. We’re not a club who is looking to sell.
“We don’t have to, we don’t need to.”
As for Dr Tony, well I suggest he be more careful before casting moral judgements in the future.