Spreading his wings: Anelka is off to China but
was snubbed before his exit
Nicolas Anelka quits Chelsea this weekend, still fuming
after a snub from the management over the staff Christmas
party.
Anelka, who is leaving to join big-spending Chinese club
Shanghai Shenhua, was overlooked for last week's silver service
lunch at the club's Cobham training ground.
Chelsea put on the lavish banquet for the first team
squad, reserves and management for Christmas, hiring waitresses
especially for the occasion.
One friend of Anelka, who has spent nearly five years at
the club, described his omission as 'an insult' after a successful
career at Stamford Bridge.
Anelka has told friends he has always given 100 per cent
for the club and has never caused problems with the management at
Chelsea.
Boss Andre Villas-Boas had already ordered the Frenchman's
locker to be emptied after the club accepted his transfer request
earlier this month.
Along with Alex, he was excluded from the first-team squad
and the dressing rooms at Cobham as soon as the club agreed to sell
the pair.
They were ordered to park their vehicles in the community
car park and had been changing in the academy facilities for
training.
Anelka has signed a two-year deal to play football in
China, but he intends to return to England at the end of the
deal.
The former France striker, who will join the ninth club of
his professional career when he moves to Shanghai Shenhua, has told
friends he will retire in England.
Defender Alex, who is also quitting Chelsea, has flown
back to Brazil and is trying to find another club.