Danny Drinkwater apologises to fans as he confirms Chelsea exit after turbulent five years but hits out at ‘treatment’
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DANNY DRINKWATER has finally left Chelsea and described his time with the club as "a business move gone wrong".
The midfielder played just 23 times for the Blues since his 2017 move, with his last competitive match in the 2018 Community Shield.
And in a farewell posted on his Instagram account, Drinkwater, 32, described his turbulent time in West London.
He wrote: "My time at Chelsea has come to an end… actually feels really strange writing this.
"Me, the club and fans are hugely disappointed with the outcome there is no doubt about that.
"Injuries, how I have been treated, mistakes I have made, issues of the pitch, lack of game time… the list of excuses could be endless but I would not and can not change what’s happened.
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"Footballs a fantastic sport but this for both parties was a business move gone wrong, it’s as black and white as that.
"To the Chelsea fans I apologise for how this has turned out I would of loved for you to see me at my best in that shirt doing what I love. All the best."
Drinkwater also took time to look at positives of the past five years in his statement.
He tips his hat to the "great players" he's played with and the "awesome managers" who have coached him.
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He added: "[I have] lived in some beautiful places, travelled the world and won some silverware".
Drinkwater's career has gone somewhat off the rails since he won the title with Leicester in 2016.
it's been a dreadfully inactive time at Chelsea, enduring spells with Burnley, Aston Villa and Kasimpasa - none of which were particularly successful.
Trouble has followed the ex-England international along the way.
He was fined two weeks’ wages at Villa after headbutting team-mate Jota in training.
And ploughed his £150,000 Range Rover into a wall whilst drink-driving in 2019.
But he has spent this season playing consistently for Reading, where he made 34 total appearances.
After turning things around, the out-of-contract former Premier League winner will hope to land a new club this summer.