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06:30 GMT, Saturday, 28 June 2008 07:30 UK

Adebayor future remains undecided

By Phil Gordos
BBC Sport in Vienna

Emmanuel Adebayor pictured during a game for Arsenal last season

Striker Emmanuel Adebayor appeared to send out mixed messages when he went back on an initial claim that he was staying at Arsenal.

The 24-year-old, who has been courted by AC Milan, said: "The most important thing for me is to keep on enjoying my football. I'm staying at Arsenal."

But later he then added: "We will have to meet with the manager [Arsene Wenger] before anything can be decided.

"But, as you know better than anyone, a lot of teams want me to play for them."

Adebayor, who scored 30 goals for Arsenal last season, has been a target for both AC Milan and Barcelona with the Italian club making it public knowledge that he is their main target this summer.

The Togo international added: "I'm just going to sit down with my agent and with my family and decide what is good for my career."

Should talks ever take place over a move, the former Monaco forward insisted money would not be a factor.

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"Adebayor showed nothing but disrespect to Arsenal and its fans with his media stunt"
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"When I was young I had a dream to be a good footballer and play for a big team," said Adebayor, who was in Vienna with his sponsors.

"I was born in Togo so I never cared about playing for money, my happiness was to play to enjoy myself. That's what I've been doing until now.

"You can see people changing clubs because of money, because they want a change of atmosphere or to get their names in the big leagues. I just play football to enjoy myself. I play because I love it."

One Arsenal player who has already made the move to Milan is Mathieu Flamini.

The French midfielder joined the 2007 Champions League winners this summer after his contract with the Gunners came to an end.

Arsenal boss Wenger, who has also been in Austria for Euro 2008, had wanted to keep his countryman at the Emirates Stadium, but Flamini felt it was in his best interests to leave.

Adebayor thinks that Flamini, who impressed as a holding midfielder last season, will be missed.

"He was one of Arsenal's biggest players," Adebayor said. "He's a good man, a good character and a good footballer.

"We play good football, now we look forward to winning trophies"
Emmanuel Adebayor

"But he's made his decision and he's very happy to have signed for Milan. He has all the qualities to become a bigger player than he was at Arsenal."

Still, Adebayor believes Arsenal will thrive without Flamini and hailed the team spirit in the camp.

"Everyone is between 21 and 26-years-old, we are all the same generation," he said. "We all have the same ideas, we go out together after games to restaurants.

"We all have the same ideas and we all want to achieve something. We have a good boss which is Arsene Wenger. He tries to bring this atmosphere to the dressing room where we feel like brothers and like family.

"Those are the reasons that give us a chance to play the football we play. We play good football, now we look forward to winning trophies."



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Related to this story:

Adebayor's triumphant return to Togo (20 Jun 08 |  Africa )
AC Milan make Adebayor approach (19 Jun 08 |  Arsenal )
Adebayor receives BBC award (04 Jun 08 |  African )
Adebayor dismisses exit rumours (09 May 08 |  Arsenal )

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