Ashley Cole 'would have stayed at Arsenal had club not gone back on their word'

Ashley Cole's agent Jonathan Barnett has claimed that the left-back would have stayed at Arsenal "100%" had the club not gone back on their word.

The 34-year-old, who is a free agent after leaving Roma in the summer, controversially joined Chelsea on transfer deadline day in 2006.

The former England international made the switch for a £5m fee and Barnett was eventually fined £100,000 and suspended from all football activity for 18 months for his role in the alleged 'tapping up' saga.

In an interview with The Guardian, the football agent said: "I think I made mistakes, but I also think I was harshly treated. I was made a scapegoat, because it goes on all the time.

"If Arsenal hadn't gone back on their word, Ashley would have stayed 100% and that would never have happened. I'm not justifying it, but explaining it."

Cole came through Arsenal's academy and spent eight years in the first team before joining Chelsea.