EXCLUSIVE : HJK Helsinki Target Taye Taiwo Departs Finland After Refusing To Play Friendly Against Liverpool

Taye Taiwo sensationally departed Finland on Sunday morning without signing a contract with HJK Helsinki, the defender’s intermediary Tekin Birinci has informed allnigeriasoccer.com.

To let the cat out of the bag, the ex Marseille, AC Milan and Dynamo Kiev full - back refused to play a friendly for the Finnish club against Liverpool on Saturday, insisting he did not travel to Helsinki for trials.

“Taiwo came to talk with HJK because there is an interest on him from the club,” said Tekin Birinci to allnigeriasoccer.com.

“Even though financially club is below our expectations we showed interest due to fact that they still compete in the Champions League and also they are the best club in the country with so many league titles in row, so we came here to talk.”

Birinci added : “Taye has been asked to play a friendly game against Liverpool FC because he had not played any official game for more than a year.

“The club wanted to use him immediately in the starting XI. For them, they are right to make the offer but when we think from the player’s side he is professional player and looks after himself well.

“He is ready and fit, also has a big career that he could not accept this kind of offer to prevent any injuries.”

As they say, once beaten, twice shy ! Remember that Taye Taiwo was on the verge of signing a deal with Legia Warsaw in the January transfer window, only for the powers that be at the Polish club to veto the move after running the rule over him in a friendly.