Magpie Nathan Freeman's trade request is not financially motivated according to his manager Paul Connors, despite reports to the contrary.
Freeman, who is yet to play a senior game, request a trade from Collingwood on Wednesday.
Connors strongly defended his client on Thursday morning on SEN, with Tim Watson questioning Freeman's motives for leaving the club.
โIt wasnโt all about money. Heโs obviously been injured for two years, so I can feel absolutely how Collingwood supporters would feel about him leaving after that time,โ Connors said.
โIt doesnโt happen very often like this, but it has happened, and weโre going to move on.
โHe hasnโt played for two years, so heโs frustrated, and thatโs whatโs brought it on. People donโt leave for money โ they leave because theyโre homesick. (Fremantle defender) Luke McPharlin left Hawthorn a long time ago because he was injured.
โThey leave sometimes because theyโre injured and these things happen and they think opportunities are better elsewhere.
โHe wants to play footy. Donโt forget Collingwoodโs got (Adam) Treloar (reportedly coming to the club), theyโve got (Jack) Crisp, theyโve got (Levi) Greenwood. Theyโre not even chasing (James) Aish because they think theyโre probably in the position theyโve built. Collingwood has one argument.
โItโs not as simple as itโs about money. To say heโs just leaving because heโs getting more money โ itโs not as simple as that. Itโs not how Nathan Freeman conducts himself.
โCollingwood is upset because theyโve invested a lot of time, so I understand the emotions will be high. Iโm not going to sit back and let Nathan Freemanโs character be questioned, because heโs a ripping person.โ
Connors also said that he felt Collingwood's offer was "unresonable".
"The offer we thought was unreasonable โฆ don't get me wrong, he hasn't played a game so it's not like we were after that [much] โ it's how that makes you feel," he said.
"That made him feel that he wanted just to have a think about his position."
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