Glenn Whelan discovered Aston Villa release via missed calls and says he won’t retire with ‘Real Madrid on the phone’

Glenn Whelan discovered Aston Villa release via missed calls and says he won’t retire with ‘Real Madrid on the phone’
Glenn Whelan discovered he had been released by Premier League-bound Aston Villa over the phone – from two missed calls!The 35-year-old, currently on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, was unavailable when manager Dean Smith called him days after the club’s Championship play-off final victory over Derby.Getty Images - Getty1

Whelan’s Villa career ended in perfect fashion, with the club ending their three-year exile from the Premier League with victory in the Championship play-off final

Whelan said: “There was only one disappointment for me. I went away on the Tuesday with the family and when I landed back in here on Tuesday I had two missed calls, one from a journalist saying I’d been released and one from the manager to give him a call.“From that point of view it was disappointing, but something I expected to be honest.”Whelan, however, will leave Villa Park with his head held high.Asked about the win at Wembley, he said: “It was a great day, a great occasion. I signed two years at Aston Villa to get them back in the Premier League and I got them there, so for me, mission complete. “To be released wasn’t a surprise, obviously what stage I’m at in my career and where Aston Villa want to go.“I’m very pleased with what I’ve achieved over the last few seasons.”Whelan did eventually speak to Smith and insisted that the pair parted on good terms.He said: “We just congratulated each other, wished each other all the best and that was it. There were no hard feelings – I’ve been in the game too long to hold grudges.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...

• Portugal vs Switzerland (Wednesday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT
• Netherlands vs England (Thursday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT
• France vs South Korea (Friday, 8pm) talkSPORT
• Denmark vs Republic of Ireland (Friday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT 2
• Croatia vs Wales (Saturday, 2pm) talkSPORT
• England vs Scotland (Sunday, 5pm) talkSPORT

“No listen, I want to wish Aston Villa all the best, thank them for my time there, thank the fans, everyone that was involved. We had some good times.”Asked if he intends to play on, the midfielder said with a smile: “Definitely. I’ve just had Real Madrid on the phone there before I came in.”

---

FIFA have deemed that the summer transfer window must be open for at least 12 weeks, and with the Premier League deciding to close the window before the first game of the season, the window will open at midnight BST on Thursday May 16th, and close at 5pm BST on Thursday August 8th with the first game of the 2019-20 season to be played the next day.
Every Premier League player out of contract and available for

---

The Sun, A News UK Company Close. Your Sun Manchester United £70m bid for ace Alvaro Morata - as Real Madrid hold out for £10m more from Jose Mourinho Jose Mourinho is also desperate
Transfer Gossip: Neymar rejects Real Madrid move as

---

FA Cup final FREE live stream: Man City vs Watford - TV channel, watch for nothing, kick-off time The 138th edition of the historic final will take place this weekend By Marc Williams
Manchester City vs Watford live on talkSPORT: Commentary

---

Arsenal are expected to be busy in the transfer market this summer with Although the Gunners are not actively looking to sell the Emery is open to allowing both Mesut Ozil and

---

Manchester United transfer news: Benfica goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos lined up as possible David De Gea replacement De Gea has one season left on his Old Trafford contract and the Red Devils
Benfica goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos lined up as possible

---

Tottenham Hotspur have declared their interest in signing Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea. The midfielder arrived at Stamford Bridge in August on a season-long loan from Real Madrid in order to fulfil
Real Madrid Loanee Mateo Kovacic Interested in Permanent

---

Chelsea vs Tottenham: Maurizio Sarri can assert authority by starting Kepa Arrizabalaga, claims former Blues striker Tony Cascarino Written by: fpnews Posted on: February 27, 2019 Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri can regain some power at the club by starting Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal against Tottenham on Wednesday night, according to former Blues
LIVE Chelsea Vs Tottenham News | One News Page

---

Chelsea's potential new home kit for 2019-20 season leaked complete with bizarre print 'inspired by Stamford Bridge' A leak of Chelsea's potential new home strip for next season has emerged online
Chelsea 2019/20 home kit leaked online - caughtoffside.com

---

Transfer news and rumours LIVE: Spurs to loan Bale for £10m. Nicolo Barella. Arsenal are ready to offer Matteo Guendouzi a bumper pay rise to £75,000-a-week,
Transfer news live: Man United 'agree' major deal; Spurs make

---

Championship play-offs: Super Computer predicts who will be promoted to the Premier League It will be one of Leeds, Aston Villa, West Brom, or Derby County who make it into the top-flight By Anton
League One play-offs: Super Computer predicts who will be

---

Jack Grealish punched: PFA chief Gordon Taylor urges players to not 'incite the crowd' with goal celebrations. with Jack Grealish, the Aston Villa midfielder, punched during the Second
Jack Grealish punched: PFA chief Gordon Taylor urges players
gistjunction.com/2019/03/12/jack-grealish-punched-pfa-chief-gordon-taylor-urges-players-to-not-incite-the-crowd-with-goal-celebrations/
Footballers must NOT incite watching supporters with their celebrations, PFA chief Gordon Taylor has claimed. Taylor has spoken in the wake of violent incidents towards players from fans which took place on Sunday, with Jack Grealish, the Aston Villa midfielder, punched during the Second City derby and Manchester United's Chris Smalling later shoved by a pitch invader.
Jack Grealish punched: PFA chief Gordon Taylor urges players

---

"Standout fixtures include the London derby between West Ham and Tottenham, plus Liverpool's second visit to Leicester in a week" This weekend will see Manchester City and Manchester United attempt to continue their early domination of the Premier League with games against Crystal Palace and Southampton respectively.

---

Paul Ince reveals who should be Man Utd's next manager - and it's not Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The former Red Devils midfielder doesn't believe Solskjaer is the right man for the job full time
Mauricio Pochettino - latest news, contract, transfer gossip

---