Saints recent signing Martin Caceres has spoken to the press to deny that he has sent Claude Puel a message after his recent club debut for the U23 side against Chelsea.
After Martin Caceres starred in his club's U23 side's 0-0 draw against Chelsea U23's it prompted many media outlets to suggest that the Uruguayan had sent a message to Claude Puel about his fitness and availability for the upcoming fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.
"Classy Caceres back after a year out" screamed the Daily Echo, " Stylish start for Caceres" was another, but then came a headline from highbrow intellectual website The Ugly Inside.
The type of website that attracts a stylish more discerning type of Saints supporter with its incisive often biting satire and witty way of reporting all matters Southampton FC, it claimed to have insider knowledge that Caceres had sent a direct message to Southampton manager Claude Puel.
"Caceres Sends Message To Puel" said the headline, leaving readers in no doubt that surely the Uruguayan had sent a written message on high quality parchment with his signature at the bottom, perhaps in blood red ink for effect.
This lead to Caceres agent to hastily arrange an interview where his client could put the record straight and who better to host it than former Saints employee and boss of Rangers Graeme Murty who has also enjoyed a media career alongside his footballing one.
Now Murty was not available as he can still get a job as a manager and hasn't sold his soul to the Sun newspaper, so a substitute was put in, of course not as clever as Murty but able to ask some cutting questions that Murty would not dare to ask, step in Graeme Souness.
GS. So what happened at St Mary's after the Chelsea U23 game ?
MC. Well i just played the game and went home then suddenly its all over the media that I had sent a message to Claude Puel which I didn't. I never wrote a letter to the manager or the club saying that I wanted to play against Tottenham Hotspur.
I appreciate what the club had done for me since day one but we all have to take care of our families.
I wanted to take my family for a day out at Paultons Park on Sunday 19th March, not go to London to chase Harry Kane about all day or get fallen on by that lump Wanyama
There were offers that came in that would take care of my family in ways that Southampton weren't willing to. Paultons offered me a family ticket including parking for £25. It's a difficult situation.
GS: The club want to portray you as a bad guy - that's the reality. You're the one that wanted a day out at Paultons - you're the one that wanted to make all the demands. That's how it appears to someone who doesn't understand the game. Supporters out there will say Martin left us in the lurch as we lost Virgil [van Dijk] to injury and we were short in the cup final. But your conscience is completely clear of it?
MC: It's completely clear. When I see all over the news that I submitted a message to the club that I wanted to play at Tottenham - that's disappointing. That never happened. There was an interview from the club; from a press conference that I demanded to play at Tottenham, which then the press took it as a written request and I wonder where is it?
As I said before, on that sunday there were possibilities of a day out at Paultons - that's normal, everyone fights for their own interests to get the best possible outcome for yourself. To say that I wrote an official request request to the club, that's a lie. And also that I refused to train and I wasn't being a good squad member? That's a complete lie. I've always given my best to that club. That's the main thing the fans should know. My conscious is very clear.
GS: What do you want to say to the Southampton supporters that think you forced your way out of there? I've managed the club and lived there for 12 years - it's a fabulous area to live in - it must have been a wrench. What is your message?
MC: The real fans know I've given everything for the club. They know everytime I step on the pitch and put on the shirt, I give blood, sweat and tears. I've played with broken nails, I've done all I could to help the team draw 0-0 with Chelsea reserves.
All I want them to know is that what they see in the press about me putting in a request to play at Spurs and I refused to train, that's all lies. I've never rejected to train or play. I want to play every game and every minute. I was a good professional as the manager said in the press. It's hard to see when people are saying I'm a bad egg or an apple.
Stop Press. Media sources are quoting Martin Caceres as saying his head is already at Paultons Park !
NB, FOR THOSE WITH SENSE OF HUMOUR BY PASSES, THIS ARTICLE IS NOT INTENDED TO SUGGEST THAT MARTIN CACERES HAS AN ATTITUDE PROBLEM OR THAT HE ONLY JOINED SAINTS DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO CUTTING EDGE THEME PARKS.