Hadji 'wasn't good enough for Villa'
David O’Leary has finally revealed why he allowed Mustapha Hadji to quit Aston Villa for Espanyol last month – because he was not good enough.
Hadji is a former African Footballer Of The Year but the one time Coventry midfielder’s past reputation counted for nothing with O’Leary.
He said: “Hadji wasn’t a bad lad but I want to take this club forward. If I’m getting it wrong about him, then there are 91 other clubs out there he was made available to and nobody came in for him.
“He wasn’t treated badly here but I’ve got to make a judgement and I didn’t think he was good enough for Aston Villa. I never got a call from anyone – apart from West Ham who wanted to take him on loan.”
Meanwhile defender Mark Delaney will learn today the extent of the foot injury suffered in the horror challenge by Fulham’s Carlos Bocanegra after seeing a specialist yesterday.
The Welsh international is already a major doubt for the Second City derby against Birmingham City at Villa Park on Sunday.
