Jonjo Shelvey has hit back at claims he has moved to the Middle East for the money, as he claims “the UK is not what it used to be 10 to 15 years ago.”
Shelvey used to play for Premier League giants like Liverpool and Newcastle United, but now the 33-year-old has gone viral for missing a penalty in front of only 75 supporters.
The video has gained over a million views, but the Londoner has revealed that the jibes being made to him “don’t bother me."
In a stark interview, the former Three Lions player has admitted he moved to the United Arab Emirates due ot the state of the UK, he said: “I've had my time, I'm happy and content. I'm just at the stage now where I want to enjoy football. It's about waking up, enjoying what I do and spending time with my family.
Jonjo Shelvey has claimed he does not want his children to grow up in the UK
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“If I'm honest, I don't want my children growing up in England any more. We're very lucky that we lived in a nice part of the UK but where I'm from, originally, you can't have nice things in my opinion.
“I'd never wear a watch in London any more. You can't have your phone out in London, in my view."
Statistics revealed 80,000 mobile phones were stolen in London last year, and big-name stars like Ex-Formula One driver Jensen Button and his wife Brittny had a case of valuables worth £250,000 stolen in St Pancras in February.
The Metropolitan Police have said that personal robbery is down by 13 per cent and theft is down 14 per cent overall in London so far this year.
“I'm not massive on reading politics,” Shelvey continued. “I just see some of the things that go on.
“I see people getting arrested for tweeting and, then, all of the flags and 'taking back the country'.
Jonjo Shelvey spent seven seasons with Newcastle
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“I'm not going to sit here and comment on things like that because I'm not clever enough to, and I'll get myself into trouble if I carry on, but I just feel that the UK isn't what it was 10 to 15 years ago.”
Despite the diversion to the Middle East, the 33-year-old said the north east is “the only place there he would want to live.
He said: “There's this debate about whether Newcastle are able to attract the big players compared to the Manchester clubs and the London clubs but, until you go there, you don't understand what it does to you.
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“There are loads of things to do. I don't care what anyone says. If players are going to listen to this, it's a no-brainer to go there and play football.
“You will not find love at a football club like I found at Newcastle, with how they take to their players and how much they back you.”
Jonjo Shelvey revealed he is currently working towards a coaching qualification
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Shelvey has always had a good relationship with Eddie Howe, and after revealing a member of Howe’s backroom staff urged him to contact the Newcastle manager, he revealed he does not want to get into the team that way.
He is currently studying his Uefa A Licence coaching qualification and says he wants to get into coaching “on merit rather than relying on someone he knows”.