Fanendo Adi Clarifies His Departure From Portland Timbers : I Requested The Trade

Published: March 13, 2019

Fanendo Adi has insisted that his departure from Portland Timbers came on his own terms despite reports claiming that he fell out with coach Giovanni Savarese in his final year with the club.

The former Super Eagles invitee became Cincinnati's first Designated Player when he was traded for up to $950,000 in allocation money last July.

Adi is in contention to face Portland Timbers at the Nippert Stadium on Sunday, March 17 and has admitted that he still has a lot of friends that play on the team.

''No, no, no, there are no bad feelings at all. The media may forget that I requested the trade. I requested to leave. The coach wanted me to stay,'' Adi was quoted as saying by the official website of Major League Soccer.

''I was the one who said I wanted to leave, so after that there is no bad feeling. The coach is a good friend of mine. We talk now and then.

''I wish them luck. He wishes me luck, so there are no bad feelings. I consider Portland as family and we will always be family.''

The 28-year-old Adi scored 54 goals in 126 appearances in the regular season during his four-year stint with Portland Timbers, whom he joined after playing for clubs in Denmark, Slovakia and Ukraine.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : fccincinnati.com