Ross Barkley rejected Chelsea as Antonio Conte turned phone off, says Joey Barton
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ROSS BARKLEY rejected a deadline day move to Chelsea due to Antonio Conte switching his phone off and failing to speak to the Everton midfielder.
That is the astonishing claim made by former Premier League star Joey Barton.
England international Barkley appeared set to move from Merseyside to the Premier League champions after the Blues agreed a £35million fee with the Toffees last Thursday.
He reportedly travelled down to West London for talks - although Barkley denied that he underwent a medical.
But Chelsea were left stunned when the 23-year-old opted against the move late on, which he claimed was because he wants to focus on returning to full fitness from his hamstring injury before deciding his future.
However, speaking on talkSPORT, Barton revealed a different reason for the playmaker's decision.
He said: "I heard a really interesting thing about what happened with the Ross Barkley transfer.
"Conte turned his phone off and Barkley's representatives were trying to contact him."
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He continued: "He wanted to say 'look, where am I going to play', and Conte turned his phone off.
"That is why Barkley got cold feet and never signed.
"He thought, 'well, if the manager isn't answering the phone to me he clearly doesn’t want me', and that is why he went back to Everton."
He was spotted in a pair of budgie smugglers relaxing on a beach as he topped up his tan and his English football lingo.
Barkley is out of contract at Everton next summer and looks set to leave the club.
He has already informed Ronald Koeman that he will not be signing a new deal and Tottenham are set to rival Chelsea in January in a move for the star.
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