The former Celtic star swapped Sunderland for Birmingham City on a permanent basis in the transfer window.
A Celtic favourite has opened up on his emotional transfer from Sunderland to Birmingham City.
Patrick Roberts is fondly thought of at the Black Cats after helping them rise from League One to the Premier League. He moved back to English Championship level with Birmingham City on loan last summer and his Sunderland exit was made permanent in the January transfer window.
A favourite of the Hoops support after seven trophies scooped during an eye-catching stint at Celtic, the winger has now opened up on his move. Joining Birmingham City was something he felt he had to do but it pulled on his heart strings. Roberts told the Sunderland Echo: "I think once I left, it sunk in a little bit. I had the extra year on my contract, but I knew from the direction of me coming here that it would probably be the end – it's just how football goes.
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Why did Patrick Roberts join Birmingham City?
“Then I just started cracking on here at Birmingham. I had conversations here and they were willing to sign me, and I was willing to sign. I think the first six months made it easier, but I always watch Sunderland, all the games, because I've still got mates there. Once Birmingham started to ask if I wanted to sign permanently, it kicked in and it was just another step in my career.
"Four years in football seems like quite a long time. Not many players last that long. To spend four years and to do what we did, I've got great pride in that and it was what I hoped for when I first went in. It was a difficult time and we had a long way to go, but going in there that was what I wanted to achieve.
“To achieve that and to leave after achieving that, I found great pleasure in. Just to see how well Sunderland are doing right now is credit to the club and how they've been run over the last five years. It was a wonderful time and I do really miss it, but you move on to other things and that is football. You move on and make a home somewhere else, so it's one of those things.
Patrick Roberts on leaving Sunderland
"If you see the direction Sunderland were going, I had honest conversations with the manager. He was always great with me. I'd speak to him all the time... Towards the end it was more down to me. The manager was happy for me to stay and be part of the squad. At my age, and with interest elsewhere, I thought I needed to go and play. I didn't want to get odd appearances here and there and further down the line have it affect me next year.
When you're at a club for a few years and you do what we did, you feel at home and it feels normal. I always feel like I can do more and perform, but at the same time, I know at my age I need to go and play games and show other people what I can do. That's just the way it is. I think it was the right time to leave. I did feel sad.
"I've done what I needed to do, and the club going in a certain direction is completely understandable. I don't have any grudges over that. I needed to do what was right for me, and the club needed to do what was right for them. We had great years together, so the right time was probably right. Sometimes you don't leave on good terms with other clubs, but I can't say a bad word about them. I was grateful to both Sunderland and Birmingham City."
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