Birmingham’s offer was great but I wanted to play in Turkey - Agyemang-Badu

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has rejected talks that his decision to swerve English side Birmingham City for a loan move to Bursaspor was money-driven.

Blues boss Harry Redknapp expressed shock at the Ghana international’s decision to head to Turkey when he had given him assurances he would be moving in with him in their chase for promotion to the Premiership.

Commentaries surrounding the season-long reported one-million-dollar loan move from Udinese have suggested Agyemang-Badu preferred Bursaspor because of the money but the 26-year-old reveals otherwise.

“I don’t think I came to Turkey because of money. I want to play football and I will get it in a competitive Turkish league,” Agyemang-Badu said.

“The offer I got for Birmingham was very great, it was very difficult to reject it but I needed to taste the Turkish league.”

The Fifa U-20 World Cup winner revealed influences from his colleague African players in the Turkish league contributed to his decision.

“I spoke with Jerry Akaminko, John Boye, Adebayor and Asamoah Gyan before our friendly with Kayserispor.

“There were great reviews and I want such challenges. It is not about money,” Agyemang-Badu insisted.

Meanwhile, Birmingham City have moved on and reportedly offered £7.2m to sign another Ghana midfielder Afriyie Acquah from Italian Serie A side Torino.