Sam Szmodics on Blackburn Rovers exit and Ipswich transfer.

In order to push through a move to Ipswich Town last summer, Sam Szmodics acknowledged that he had declined to play for Blackburn Rovers.

After scoring 33 goals for Rovers in 2023–2024 to keep them in the Championship, there was a lot of interest in the forward. Despite Blackburn’s desire to keep Szmodics, the Premier League’s attraction forced the attacker to join Ipswich.

After it became clear that the Tractor Boys were interested, Szmodics stopped playing in preseason games. John Eustace acknowledged that his top player wasn’t in the right frame of mind to play, but he put that down to an initial niggle.

After several weeks of the transfer drama, Szmodics finally made his way back to the team for the season opener against Derby County. Before Ipswich paid Rovers’ value, he scored and then scored twice against Stockport County.

For the first time, Szmodics discussed the move in considerable detail, acknowledging that he trained apart from the team and refused to participate in order to make sure the move went through.

Szmodics said on StillJack’s podcast, “I didn’t play, so it was quite an awkward preseason.”

“I declined to participate. Now, I don’t mind stating that. I wanted to move to Ipswich since it’s in the Premier League, but I strived to be the best I could be at Blackburn. It’s my dream, like I mentioned.

“Ipswich is a fantastic club; it seems like home to me. Blackburn is a fantastic club. I went to visit John Eustace when I was reluctant to play, and he was completely amazing with me.

I told him, “Listen, I don’t want to offend the players or the staff, but I don’t want to participate in any of the preseason games. That’s perfectly okay, I’ll protect you and I’ll help you with anything you want.”

In my opinion, he could have simply asked, “Who do you think you are? which isn’t me. I’m not like that. The season was clearly just getting started, and the Ipswich relocation had not yet been completed.

“He mentioned that the season was about to begin, so I recall sitting down with my agent and thinking, ‘I can’t just refuse to play, buddy. I have to play.

“I recall thinking, ‘I’m on the bench and I ended top scorer in the Championship last season,’ when I was benched against Derby in the opening game of the season.

“My actions have placed me on the bench. He said, “You’re playing on Tuesday night,” after I scored. He stated that you are not refusing to play in the cup against Stockport. It all happened after I started, scored two goals, and Ipswich returned.

Szmodics stated that he did not make the decision to decline to play lightly. To prevent any harm to the other members of the group, he withdrew from training.

He was glad to start training again when it appeared that the move to Ipswich had stagnated.

“I want to dive into that, the decision to not play because that’s not an easy decision,” he said.

“Many people assumed I was hurt, and many others were unaware. Being impolite is not my style, but I just stated, “Listen, I don’t want to play.”

Then things became really terrible, to the point where I felt like I was training alone. The Director of Football told me, “No, no, you need to train with the team now,” as I was heading into Blackburn to work out with the fitness coach.

I didn’t mean to offend Blackburn when I said, ‘I’m not training with the team.’ I don’t want the supporters to misinterpret that.

“I was very explicit that I didn’t want to offend the athletes. “I’m not in the right frame of mind to train, so I don’t want to train with the team,” I remarked.

“I was immediately back in training when it appeared that it wasn’t, and I was saying, ‘I’m not playing games,’ when it appeared that it would happen again.

“You ought to be pushing on this, in my opinion. I moved to the Premier League at the age of 28, and I am currently 29.

“This was probably my last and only opportunity I get to play in the Premier League I had to do all I can to do that.”

Szmodics is still extremely appreciative of Rovers for giving him the chance to play in the Championship, despite his candid admission.

“I still think the club is great. I continue to observe the outcomes. “All the boys are still familiar to me,” Szmodics emphasised.

It was a difficult time because I didn’t want to make any trouble. With Blackburn, it was the manager’s first preseason. I was careful not to disturb him.

“Blackburn deserves praise since they were spared from having to acquire or sell me.

“Those two football teams have my sincere gratitude. I’m really fortunate, but you also need to be thankful for yourself because, of course, scoring goals got you there.

“I was leaving Blackburn Rovers for a huge club and had to pinch myself as I went there. I wondered, ‘How fortunate am I? This is incredible.

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