Michael Essien has told Lyon he will not play for them again as he seeks a move to Chelsea.
Lyon have turned down two bids from Chelsea for the 22-year-old Ghanaian midfielder, and Essien has decided to take action in an attempt to secure a move to Stamford Bridge.
“From now on I am playing with the junior players and I will not take part in any first-team matches for them,” Essien told the Daily Mirror.
“I feel very let down by Lyon. I cannot understand why they’ve acted this way.”
Lyon, who are understood to have rejected bids of £18m and £21m from the Premier League champions, are holding out for £32m fee as well as a player in exchange Essien.
Essien has already missed Lyon’s first two matches of the season, and has made it clear he wants to move to Chelsea.
“The club know I want to leave and I have kept them informed at every stage – but they are behaving very badly over this,” added Essien.
“I have made it clear to them I will not play for them again.
“I have heard the Lyon president saying other clubs from the Premiership are interested in buying me – including Arsenal and Manchester United – but I’ve no desire to play for anyone else but Chelsea.
“I will not go to another club, even Real Madrid. Chelsea want me and I want to play for them, that is why I am so disappointed with the situation.
“They are telling me one thing and doing another and that is not healthy for me, the manager of Lyon or the rest of the squad. The sooner Lyon resolve this, the better.”
