Reading forward Leroy Lita admitted that he ‘sulked’ after the club turned down a bid to join Aston Villa in 2007.
The forward cost the club a record £1 million when he signed in 2005. Over the course of two seasons, he scored 29 goals as the Royals easily won the Championship and placed ninth in their first Premier League season.
Attracting attention upon his inclusion in the 2007 Under-21 European Championship Team of the Tournament, the forward acknowledged his desire to advance in his career.
Talking on the Under the Cosh podcast, with former EFL forwards Jon Parkin and Chris Brown, Lita admitted he ‘sulked’ when the club turned down an £8m move from Aston Villa
“There were a few,” he said. “I went to the Euros that year with the Under-21s and I was the only English player in the team of the tournament. I had a few clubs come in and Reding just turned everything down. I think they wanted £10m or something like that. I think the closest anyone got was [Aston] Villa and £8m. They said no. I was vexed.
“I still had two years remaining on my contract when Reading offered me a new one. Villa is a sizable club where success opens doors to advancement. When I walked into the office right away, he told me to simply put my head down and go to work because the club wasn’t selling me. I pouted endlessly.”
After making just two goals in his 18 games during the team’s 2007–08 relegation season, and going on loans to Norwich City and Charlton Athletic, he finally moved on a free transfer in 2009.
The 38-year-old continued to play for Nuneaton Borough today and continued to play professionally till 2018.
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