Reading Manager Jaap Stam Tears Into Asamoah Gyan Over Claims They Did Not Want Him Playing For Ghana – "That's A Load Of Rubbish"

Asamoah Gyan claims his move to English Championship side Reading fell through because the club did not want him playing for Ghana, Reading FC Manager Jaap Stam says that’s a load of rubbish.
Stam held a pre game presser Wednesday in which he methodically explained the reasons why they refused to sign Gyan. According to him, his physical condition was terrible, and they needed six to eight weeks to get him in shape – of course they weren’t going to spend all that money on wages and then need to get him back in shape before they can use him.
Touching on the reason Gyan gave for why the move didn’t happen, Stam pulled no punches in putting down that flimsy excuse.

“It’s not about we don’t want him to play for Ghana. To be fair that’s a load of rubbish. It’s not about that at all. If he was fit and ready to play for us at 100 per cent then we would be happy for him to go to Ghana and play his games over there.”
“But because that wasn’t the case we said to him, if you are not fit you can’t go to Ghana because you need to work over here to get into shape and eventually play for us. After that you can play for Ghana.
“I’ve been a player myself and certain players look for excuses for certain situations. If you are not fit – you are not going to go to your country and play. That’s it.
“If he was fit and ready to play for us, then of course we would be happy to let him go to Ghana to play for his country. It’s the same for all the players.
“If [Reading players] Quinn or McShane or McCleary or Gunter are not fit, they are not going to be playing for their country. They are going to be staying over here to have treatment because the club is paying their salary and we need to work with them for the whole season.”