Reading manager Jaap Stam has confirmed striker Asamoah Gyan failed a medical at the club, leading to the ruined loan move.
The Black Stars captain debunked those stories claiming Reading wanted to stop him from playing for Ghana during the AFCON 2017 in Gabon.
But Stam has labelled that claim as ‘rubbish’.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon at Hogwood Park, the Dutchman said the club would have been happy to let the 30-year-old head off on international duty, providing he was fit.
“Yes, he wasn’t in very good shape. When he joined us they did a very good medical on him which was very important because he’s been injured in the past”.
“He hasn’t been playing a lot of games”.
“You need to be sure, if you bring a player in, that he’s fit and not that you need to work him for six to eight weeks to get him in shape”.
“And maybe there’s a risk of him getting injured during that period so he’s out for a longer time”.
“And then he needs to go to Ghana in January and we lose him for two months. So it’s a big risk.
“He wasn’t in good shape, that was the case. Of course, the player says he was in good shape because he wants to play, but he wasn’t. Our medical people are not going to be lying about that”.
That’s why we made the decision not to sign him” Stam told reporters .
