Former Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has broken his silence on the criticism surrounding his move to the UAE second division, insisting that the negative comments 'don't bother' him.
The 32-year-old, who once played for England, went viral earlier this month after missing a penalty for his new club Arabian Falcons in front of a sparse crowd on a pitch that looked out of place in the Northern League.
Shelvey left Newcastle in January 2023 for Nottingham Forest, but the move did not work out. He then joined Turkish side Caykur Rizespor on a free transfer, moved to Eyupspor, and signed a short-term deal with Burnley in January, making just four appearances before being released.
His latest move to Dubai raised eyebrows, with some suggesting he had gone for the money. However, Shelvey countered: 'I've since seen a few things like 'he's gone there for money'. I'm thinking 'what money? There's no money in the UAE Second Division League'.'
He added that the standard wage in the league is around £2,000 a month, which is far less than he earned during his career, and that his brother earns more working in a London hotel.
