“I actually distinctly recall asking, “What has happened to me? Has my performance diminished to the extent that a bigger team won’t sign me on a free? At this age, I’ve always aspired to be a free agent, but now that the time has come, things have changed.
Danny Drinkwater is speaking candidly and frankly about the previous 12 months of his life, as he has done on numerous occasions during our hour-long conversation.
Since being released by Chelsea in late June of last year, the former England international, 33, has been without a club. His most recent match? a 1-0 loss to West Brom on April 30, 2022, while making a loan appearance for Reading in the Championship at the time.
As my stay there came to a close,.
when I started picking up fitness, I thought, ‘I actually feel alright here. I’m starting to really help the team,'” he tells SPORTbible. “I thought I’d done enough for a bigger club to come along and take a sniff. I thought someone might give me a shot to prove myself but it didn’t happen.”
It has been 427 days since that afternoon at The Madejski Stadium.
For many footballers, the mere thought of being clubless for so long would give them sleepless nights. Drinkwater has, however, largely enjoyed the lengthy break. As well as renovating a number of properties locally, he owns the Manchester-based restaurant Firefly – a project that keeps him busy.
“I’ve also spent more time with my family than ever before,” he grins. “I’ve absolutely loved being with my kids.”
But there has been a certain something missing; an old friend. From his home in Manchester, the experienced midfielder wants to make some noise as the transfer window flings open its doors again. After being met with several offers at the end of last season and in January, the once-£35 million-rated midfielder remains unattached to a club.
He explains, “I want to be fired up about a project. “I’m just looking forward to something exciting. I need that burning sensation once more.
The most challenging three years of Drinkwater’s career have been the last three. From a desperate six-month loan stint at Turkish club Kasimpasa, a year before he was released, to learning with one hour left in the transfer window that he wasn’t in Maurizio Sarri’s plans.
He doesn’t shirk away from admitting his time at Stamford Bridge was a disaster but now, the two-time Premier League winner is eager to prove his worth in pre-season — whether that be at recently relegated Leicester City, a club he speaks so fondly about, or with former teammate N’Golo Kante in Saudi Arabia. The time has come to get back out there.
“I’m sat here, twiddling my thumbs. I’m just buzzing to get involved again.”
arguably the best season since his time at Leicester, but he knew his time at Chelsea was all but over ahead of his contract expiring. It was, in his own words, a strange ending to a five-year spell.
“I think my last day at Cobham [Chelsea’s training ground] was before I went out on loan to Reading,” he says. “After that Reading spell, I never got an invite back. I thought someone at the club would say, ‘I know it’s not worked out Danny but you were really appreciated around the club, the lads loved you. The staff loved you.’ I got none of that.”
Drinkwater was, however, offered a coaching role at Stamford Bridge, a year before his contract expired – a gesture that brought more questions than answers.
“Bearing in mind I was 32 at the time, I remember them saying I was unbelievable with the younger players so we’d love to offer you a coaching job of some degree after you’ve finished football. I was thinking, ‘They’ve treated me like this for the past few years and then go and offer me a job afterwards? Was it some sort of compensation or what?’”
A few weeks before officially becoming a free agent, the 33-year-old penned a statement apologising to Chelsea fans for how his transfer played out. He described it as a “business move gone wrong” and a “hugely disappointing” spell that was hampered by a number of different factors, including injuries and a lack of game time.
Today, a year after those comments were made, Drinkwater is still without a club.
“I do miss playing but if something wasn’t to come in again this window that didn’t excite me, and I decided to knock it on the head properly… what can I say? Football has given me some absolutely great years. It’s also given me some shitty times but the good years definitely outweigh the bad.
“I was able to buy my mum and dad the dream bungalow. I’ve been able to take care of my family so am I going to sit here and say football is shit? No chance. Has it been ideal for me and my position now? 100% Was it a dream as a kid? 100%.
“The last three years have been the toughest in regards to football but I’m not going to sit here and complain.”
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