Sheffield United midfielder Ravel Morrison has hit back at comments from Glen Johnson about Saido Berahino.
Morrison and Berahino were England Under-21 international teammates and the new Blades signing has criticised Johnson for “trying to destroy people’s careers.”
It comes after the former Chelsea and Liverpool right-back spoke about Berahino on Talksport. Johnson was a guest on Jim White and Natalie Sawyer’s mid-morning show and played alongside the striker at Stoke City.
As the Guardian reports, Stoke have paid around £2m to release Berahino from his contract at the club three years early. The 26-year-old scored just five goals in 56 appearances and is now expected to join Belgian side Zulte Waregem.
“There was total disrespect and that’s what he was like on a daily basis and the fact they paid [up his contract] with three years left to go says it all,” Johnson said.
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“He had the wrong mentality and attitude from day one and for whatever reason, when he was at Stoke, he was going against the grain.
“If I was a manager or club owner, I wouldn’t take him if you paid me.”
Morrison responded on Twitter, saying: “@glen_johnson trying to destroy people’s careers. How can you speak about people like that in public. @SBerahino good luck at your new team. I hope you work hard, get back to your best and get back we’re [sic] you belong. God bless.”
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(Photo by David Lidstrom/Getty Images)
The Blades have already taken something of a gamble on Morrison. Once hailed as a great English talent, now aged 26 that has so far gone largely unfulfilled.
There have been question marks over the attitude of Morrison and this public feud may not have pleased the Bramall Lane hierarchy. This could be shown by the fact the midfielder has since deleted the tweet.
However, Morrison may have a point. Suggesting managers shouldn’t sign Berahino may be a little crass from Johnson.
Yet the fact Morrison is making headlines for off-pitch comments before even kicking a ball competitively is hardly ideal.
