Dwight McNeil’s partner slams Palace for ‘messing’ with his mental health

McNeil had been offered a contract until 2030 and undergone a medical, and Sharpley wrote on social media: “Tonight, and the last 48 hours, have broken my heart to see how the football world you love so much can be so cruel to you.

“To have something promised to you, to have been dragged along on an emotional roller coaster and to be toyed with until the final minute, to have 4 and a half years of your life promised to you, travelling, medicals, arrangements made, promises made, to have prepared to move your life, our life, 100s of miles away in the space of a few hours.

“For that to be torn away from you at the last second with absolutely no explanation, going from everything to radio silence, no phone call, no communication, and be left brokenhearted with nothing but confusion, has hurt more than I can say.

“We live in a world where everyone is aware of how big a problem mental health is. So, in football, why do we find it acceptable because these young men are on a lot of money and that’s okay to mess and toy with their mental health and that it’s just part of the job? No matter of money, we all deserve to be treated with respect, kindness, and fairly.

“So I really question the industry tonight. I only hope that there’s more done in the future to protect people from situations like what I’ve witnessed tonight. Football is brutal, and yes, it’s the nature of the beast, but messing with human beings’ feelings and emotions shouldn’t be acceptable.

“People only see one side in the media, you don’t see the tears, the emotion and the distress, I have seen tonight.”

The behaviour of Palace has also infuriated Everton and not simply because the Merseyside club stood to recoup the £20million they had paid Burnley for McNeil in 2022. Executives at Everton have been left angry by the lack of respect they have been shown.

It is the second successive transfer window that a deal involving Palace has broken down at the last moment. In September, Palace agreed a £35million deal with Liverpool to sell Marc Guéhi. The centre back was in a scanner having a medical when the Palace chairman, Steve Parish, then backed out of the agreement.

Guéhi joined Manchester City last month for £20million. McNeil will now remain at Everton and Sharpley added: “So here’s to carrying on being an Everton player.

“The support we’ve had from this club especially during my illness has meant a lot on our journey, so let’s keep grinding, keep working and grafting for this badge. Let’s keep going Dwight, show them who you are. I’m right by your side.”

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