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Peter Odemwingie’s deadline day fiasco is an iconic Premier League moment but this former Manchester City star claims he narrowly avoided a similar fate
Joleon Lescott says he got a call from Harry Redknapp just like Peter Odemwingie(Image: In The Mixer)
Joleon Lescott claims he almost faced a similar situation to Peter Odemwingie’s deadline-day fiasco after a call with Harry Redknapp. With the window now shut, no January deadline day is complete without mentioning Odemwingie and his 2013 car park faux pas.
The then-West Brom striker was spotted outside QPR’s ground on the final day of the January window 13 years ago hankering for a move but a deal had not yet been agreed. What unfolded was a mortifying interview with Sky Sports News followed by the plug being pulled on the transfer.
In the years since, ex-QPR boss Redknapp admitted he called Odemwingie telling him to head down to London. But Redknapp says he told the striker to check into a hotel and was shocked when he arrived at Loftus Road after a breakdown in communication.
Ex-Manchester City defender Lescott has now claimed that Redknapp once phoned him up in a similar fashion. But he instead chose to ignore Redknapp’s plea to come down.
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“He [Odemwingie] got a phone call from Harry. I’ve had one of those phone calls and refused to go down. No chance,” said Lescott, speaking on In The Mixer brought to you by Sky Bet.
“I was in the car with my brother and the phone rings. I said, ‘Hello?’ He went, ‘Hi. It’s Harry and we’ve just agreed a fee…’ I was like, ‘What’s going on here?’
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“I didn’t even know I was available! I was like, ‘No. I’m alright. I ain’t coming down.’ I called my agent. He had sorted that out. I was like, ‘Don’t do that again. Phone me first so I can save the embarrassment.'”
In the wake of Odemwingie’s debacle, there was some speculation about what exactly went on. Redknapp himself told his side of the story on talkSPORT three years ago.
“Probably the biggest disaster was when I was at QPR. We were going to sign Odemwingie,” he said. “We couldn’t get the deal done but we felt sure we’d get it.
“So I said to him: ‘Look, get down here, if it’s not until nine or 10 we might be able to get the deal done.’ We hadn’t even spoken about money or wages with him.
“I said: ‘Drive down to QPR and put yourself in a hotel somewhere so that you’re close by.’ He didn’t. He went straight to the football ground, got out the car and there were cameras and everything. Oh my god, everyone went crazy and that was the end of the deal!”
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