Wilfried Zaha has been the model professional despite seeing his ‘dream’ move to Arsenal fall through this summer.
That is according to Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, who was able to welcome Zaha back into the first-team fold after he handed in a transfer request.
Arsenal, and then Everton, failed to meet Palace’s huge asking price, but Hodgson insists Zaha is not holding a grudge against the club.
‘It was a simple case with Aaron Wan-Bissaka,’ said Hodgson.
‘When it becomes clear that this offer is on the table and he wants to go, you react with more experience than you would when you are younger.
‘Then you look at things in a selfish way: ‘How many points is this going to cost and how much worse will the season be because of him going?’
‘With Wilf, I don’t think anyone was thinking we definitely must block him because we want our best player still with us.
‘We understood that if a really big offer comes his way and a much bigger club than Crystal Palace want him, and he is desperate to go, we are going to have to try and do some kind of deal.
‘The unfortunate thing for Wilf is that offer did not come his way from the sort of club that he would want.
‘I think Steve Parish has made that clear to Wilf and they’ve thrashed that side of it out.
‘As a result it is not a major problem for me with Wilf coming back, having accepted the situation.
‘The way he works here is just the same as it was. Since the first day he has been mature about it.’
After Palace sold Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Manchester United, Zaha was hopeful they would sanction his switch to Arsenal.
Palace reportedly wanted as much as £90million for their star attacker, a fee Arsenal baulked at.
Despite a difficult summer, Zaha has played in every Premier League game so far this season for Palace.
