Burnley never really lost interest in Michael Obafemi, but maybe his behaviour since the summer will be a warning signal for the club should talks go ahead this week as indicated. Even when a manager says what he wants in his players it’s a sure fire sign he isn’t happy.

Russell Martin has tried for far too long to encourage, develop and mentor Michael Obafemi, and now as most of us know he seems to have given up on him. More references regards his behaviour do nothing to inspire confidence in Obafemi, so why would Burnley still want to sign him ? Especially when he says things like this regards his latest omission. “All I want and all the supporters want is people willing to give 100% every day. 100% presence, attitude, to be unselfish, to run for the team. To behave in that way even when you’re not involved. Be a good teammate. At this moment in time, the players involved today deserved that more.”

Obafemi of course isn’t physically injured otherwise those comments wouldn’t have been made by Martin, it was his way of making it clear Obafemi could have played but wasn’t selected for the reasons given. Some people still don’t get it, but then some people don’t get a lot of things. Especially when it comes to footballers who play for their chosen team so they just make up their own reasoning even when the truth is handed to them on a very well warmed up plate.

Obafemi we know would leave in a heartbeat, and as it stands not many would try and stop him. The stumbling block will be the fee, the two clubs were far apart in the summer with Swansea wanting at least seven million for Obafemi, and Burnley so far away from that figure it was an impossible task. The passage of time since then has seen more ridiculous behaviour from Obafemi at a time when his career should be flourishing and surely he should recognise that ?

But it seems not.

Maybe now the club will make some allowances to rid themselves of a player who hasn’t delivered this season and was disruptive for half of the last campaign ? Either way, the interest is still there, and we are certain transfer talks will occur again. Whilst the world of normality deals with everyday life and it’s real problems a young man who earns a ridiculous amount of money seems possessed with only his own feelings and what he can get. It’s so sad that continues to be the case. And all that for doing not a lot other than bemoaning his sorry state and upsetting the very people who just wanted to help him improve and get better.

If ever there was proof of a footballers commitment to a club that was ready to give everything to him, even when his behaviour was unprofessional and problematic then you have it here. And I bet for not one second has this young man given thought to the knock on effect of all of this. To the club, other players, the supporters or even the effect he could have made, and how much happier he could be had he just listened, taken stock and been a proper professional.

Let’s hurry up those talks and lets make it happen. Swansea City as a club and it’s fans don’t need this it’s affecting any half chances the club has of success this season.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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