Chelsea deliver one final insult to Anelka
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Chelsea deliver one final insult to Anelka
Spreading his wings: Anelka is off to China but was snubbed before his exit
Nicolas Anelka quits Chelsea this weekend, still fuming after a snub from the management over the staff Christmas party.
Anelka, who is leaving to join big-spending Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, was overlooked for last week's silver service lunch at the club's Cobham training ground.
Chelsea put on the lavish banquet for the first team squad, reserves and management for Christmas, hiring waitresses especially for the occasion.
One friend of Anelka, who has spent nearly five years at the club, described his omission as 'an insult' after a successful career at Stamford Bridge.
Anelka has told friends he has always given 100 per cent for the club and has never caused problems with the management at Chelsea.
Boss Andre Villas-Boas had already ordered the Frenchman's locker to be emptied after the club accepted his transfer request earlier this month.
Along with Alex, he was excluded from the first-team squad and the dressing rooms at Cobham as soon as the club agreed to sell the pair.
They were ordered to park their vehicles in the community car park and had been changing in the academy facilities for training.
Anelka has signed a two-year deal to play football in China, but he intends to return to England at the end of the deal.
The former France striker, who will join the ninth club of his professional career when he moves to Shanghai Shenhua, has told friends he will retire in England.
Defender Alex, who is also quitting Chelsea, has flown back to Brazil and is trying to find another club.