Owen Humphreys/PA Archive/Press Association Images
A popular figure at Stamford Bridge, it wasn’t as if the Irish winger that the club had splashed £17 million on to prize him from Blackburn Rovers in 2003 was no longer a part of the Chelsea first-team. The jinky left-winger had made 40 appearances in all competitions the previous season, and had formed a deadly double-pronged attack with Arjen Robben as the club romped home to successive league successes. So, it was certainly a bit of a surprise when he was allowed to leave the club for a cut-price fee of £5 million in July 2006.
”In my squad, there are always a few I want to leave and a lot of players I’m desperate to keep. And there are always a couple of players I’d like to keep but I have no courage to keep when I can’t promise they’ll be playing 75% of the matches. I like Damien as a player and as a person. He’s such a good player, we will do good business with another club.’’ – Jose Mourinho, July 2006.
The fan favourite was in the midst of a transfer battle between Spurs and Liverpool for his services, when Newcastle came and won the race for the 27 year old.
Ultimately, Duff’s time on Tyneside would be marred by injury and poor form, and it would be his own goal which would ultimately prove to be the final nail in the club’s relegation coffin three years later.
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