Wilfried Zaha reiterates desire to leave Crystal Palace ‘to win trophies’

Premier League - Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Pool via REUTERS
Jack Rosser @JackRosser_18 February 2021

Wilfried Zaha has signalled his intention to leave Crystal Palace once more.

The Palace talisman, who has been working to force a move away from south London for a number of years, has again laid out his ambition to compete at the top of the game and win trophies before the end of his career.

Zaha, 28, has long held desires of a move back to a Champions League club after his unsuccessful spell at Manchester United as a younger player.

The winger, who was given time off training at the start of last season after late moves to Everton and Arsenal collapsed, has been back to his best this year and Palace have struggled to cope without him thanks to a recent hamstring injury.

Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit, Zaha reaffirmed his current commitment to Palace but said he will "have to look" at opportunities should they arise.

"I have been at Palace since I was eight," said Zaha. "I have given my all to the club. I am very ambitious. Everyone knows that. I will always give 150% to Crystal Palace but I'll always be ambitious. If there are opportunities I will have a look at them. I want to play at the highest level and win trophies to show my kids."

The Eagles have long valued Zaha more than any other potential suitor would be willing to pay. But the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the forward's contract - which expires in 2023 - not being renewed, means that valuation has dropped to somewhere around £60million.

Speaking in 2019, Palace chairman Steve Parish said he would not stand in the way of Zaha leaving if the deal was right for all parties.

Parish told the Daily Mail: "I've watched him every week for 10 years - he scored the first goal in the first game after we bought the club when he was 16. So there's even a bit of me that wants to see what he can do at a top club, and I certainly wouldn't want to be the person who stopped that.

"I feel he deserves to get there. I hope it happens and sometimes it mystifies me he's not up there already."

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