Player tries to calm anger over move to West Ham – Publishes letter to fans. Guido Rodriguez today officially becomes a West Ham United player after a quick operation which really got into swing last week.
On Friday we covered reports from Turkey which explained the free agent has received three offers that week. Those were from Fenerbahce, West Ham and Real Betis.
The midfielder’s contract with Real Betis expired at the end of June and he was expected to join Barcelona. That didn’t happen and then Betis tried to get him to sign a renewal and return, but the offer from West Ham was better and that ultimately saw him head for London.
Some around Betis are a little annoyed with the Argentine for the way he’s left the club. Local newspaper Estadio Deportivo say Rodriguez was an ’emblem’ of the club, and he’s ‘left Betis through the back door’.
The Copa America winner has now published a letter to Real Betis fans, trying to rebuild some bridges. He clearly feels a lot for the club and doesn’t want those who used to cheer for him to now see him as an enemy.
As part of a lengthy and emotional message, Rodriguez said: ‘My departure was not as I imagined, and I know that many people did not like it. The last few months were not easy for me and it was not my best moment, I suffered a lot, but to make this decision I had to put my feelings aside, because I could not have done it any other way
‘You have no idea how much I love this club and this city, but I had to think about and put other things first as well, like my future and that of my family, look for new challenges, new objectives and keep alive that inner fire that I feel and that always moves me in this sport.
‘I doubted until the last day what would happen with my future and what was best for me. But I am leaving calmly, with peace of mind, because every day that I was a Betis player I gave everything I had to give, I never held anything back, I emptied myself. And I think it is time to look for fulfilment somewhere else.
‘I know I’m going to miss you, you are a part of my life, a very important one. Because we lived and shared many things, more than I thought on a professional and personal level. I will return to see the team whenever I can and I will carry a part of Seville in my heart.’
