Crystal Palace accused of messing with Dwight McNeil’s mental health after transfer U-turn
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Palace did not sign Everton winger after he had medical
McNeil’s partner criticises ‘cruel’ football world.
Dwight McNeil’s partner has claimed Crystal Palace provided no explanation for pulling out of a move to sign him from Everton on transfer deadline day and accused them of toying with the winger’s mental health.
McNeil stayed at Everton after Palace decided not to proceed with a £20m deal at the last minute on Monday, despite the 26-year-old having completed his medical and agreed terms on a four-and-a-half-year contract. It is understood the collapse of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s £30m move to Milan, after the France striker failed a medical, prompted Palace to change their offer to an initial loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season.
A deal sheet was submitted to the Premier League that gave Palace two extra hours to complete the paperwork. But Palace appear to have had a change of heart, although neither Everton nor McNeil were informed. Palace have been contacted for comment.
Their behaviour is believed to have left Everton mystified and McNeil’s partner, Megan Sharpley, said in an emotional post on Instagram that there was “radio silence” from Palace.
“Tonight, and the last 48 hours, have broken my heart to see how the football world you love so much can be so cruel to you,” she wrote. “To have something promised to you, to have been dragged along on an emotional rollercoaster and to be toyed with until the final minute, to have 4 and a half years of your life promised to you, travelling, medicals, arrangements made, promises made, to have prepared to move your life, our life, 100s of miles away in the space of a few hours. For that to be torn away from you at the last second with absolutely no explanation, going from everything to radio silence, no phone call, no communication, and be left brokenhearted with nothing but confusion, has hurt more than I can say.”
She added: “We live in a world where everyone is aware of how big a problem mental health is. So, in football, why do we find it acceptable because these young men are on a lot of money and that’s okay to mess and toy with their mental health and that it’s just part of the job? No matter of money, we all deserve to be treated with respect, kindness, and fairly. So I really question the industry tonight. I only hope that there’s more done in the future to protect people from situations like what I’ve witnessed tonight.”
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