Monday, 27th January, 2014
Nicolas Anelka has categorically denied wanting to leave West Bromwich Albion for Lazio, despite having the cloud of a potential FA ban on his head.
Anelka was recently subject to an approach from Lazio and the Frenchman became linked with a move away from the Hawthorns, especially given his off-field troubles.
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Anelka is currently in the dock at the FA for his controversial quenelle gesture celebration last month – an action seen as anti-semitic in some quarters.
If found guilty of breaching FA rules, Anelka faces a minimum five-match ban and, amid all this, the West Brom striker has found time to deny any interest in looking for an escape route.
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"Thanks to Lazio & all the other clubs who wanted to sign me these last days," Anelka wrote on his official Twitter feed today.
"See you this summer if I decide to continue. But the question is why should I leave my club & England?
"I'm happy here & I did nothing wrong. So now it's time to stay focus on my football with my club & I will try my best on the pitch like I always do!"
Anelka's defence with regards to the FA charge has been that the gesture was anti-system rather than anti-semitic.
The forward even posted a video earlier this month showing the leader of a prominent Jewish group in France as clarifying that the quenelle was only anti-semitic when used in certain situations.
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