King of the Jungle Harry Redknapp is back in the U.K and he has come out with another gem of a story from his time at Portsmouth which involves Premier League hotshot Yakubu. It turns out, the Yak was a confident striker and he made a bet with his gaffer that he could score 20 Premier League goals in one season.
Redknapp told the story to TalkSPORT and it has a brilliant ending that you can see down below.
“We got promoted from the Championship and we were in the Premier League. I said to the Yak at the start of the season: ‘How many goals do you think you will score this year?’ Premier goals, not cup goals.
“He said 20.
“I said: ’20 league goals?!’
“He went: ‘I think so gaffer yeah.’
“If you get 20 league goals I will give you £20,000. Me, personally.’
“Anyway the season goes on and he is going okay. Last game of the season we played Middlesbrough at home and we won 5-0. The Yak has scored four goals.
“He comes in after the game: ‘Hey Yak you were fantastic today,’ I said. ‘What a performance, great goals.
“He said: ‘Yeah but I should have scored the other goal.’
“I said: ‘What goal, don’t worry about that you got four goals.’
“He said: ‘But I have 19 goals and one more goal and I would have won your money.’
“I went: ‘Oh my god. I didn’t realise that. I would have subbed you way before that. I said no way would you have stayed on the pitch. I would have had you off the pitch straight away.’
“I forgot about the bet and I didn’t know he had 19 goals. I would have subbed him straight away, Jim, there was no way he was going to have my £20,000 off me.”
😂 “I didn't know he was on 19 goals - I'd have subbed him straight away!”
Brilliant Harry @Redknapp story 😂
