#PLStories- Gary O’Neil on Jordan Zemura’s decision to leave AFC Bournemouth #AFCB

Despite having played a key role this season, Zemura was earlier this week informed he would no longer be allowed to train with the club’s first team, instead being sent to work with the development squad. That decision came as a result of Italian club Udinese informing Cherries they were in talks with the Zimbabwean over signing him a free transfer. Then on Wednesday, the Serie A outfit confirmed Zemura would join them in the summer, when his contract at Cherries expired. The Daily Echo understands Cherries’ final contract offer to the 23-year-old was made eight weeks ago after drawn out negotiations, with the proposed deal in excess of £30,000 per week, alongside additional bonuses and achievable salary rises. This offer, one of numerous the club made over the past 15 months, was not been acknowledged by either Zemura or his representatives. It is understood Cherries had not been officially informed that a deal had been struck with Udinese, finding out when it was announced on social media. Asked if he feels let down by Zemura for the way his departure has transpired, Cherries head coach O’Neil told the Daily Echo: “All of it is out now, so you all have a real clear picture of the situation. “I don’t feel any way about it. As a footballer you have decisions to make and you make them and you do what you think is best for yourself. “My responsibility is to do what I think is best for the team and the group and the club. “It is the same with any situation that I deal with really. No real feelings about it, just what is best for the group and how do we give ourselves the best chance of staying up at the end of the season.” Asked if Zemura’s situation had been a distraction to him and the squad, O’Neil insisted: “No. Nothing will distract me and the group from the task at hand, I can guarantee you that. “There will be no shift in focus. It will be 100 per cent, from the moment that I took over until the end of the season.” O’Neil added: “I think you guys know most of it now, if not all of it. I think it’s all out. “The club have always been really aligned in how we see it. “Jordan will move on and play for another club next season. As always, my focus is on the group and making sure that everybody is ready for the weekend. “We’ve made decision that it’s best at this moment for Jordan to train with the under-21s and that will remain until it doesn’t.”