Darren Bent's foul-mouthed rant over Twitter at Spurs' Chairman Daniel Levy paved the way for a move to Sunderland, and he repaid all of the faith shown in him by Steve Bruce. He was magnificently placed every time the ball came near the box, and finished the season with 24 league goals, and the backing of the population of Sunderland for an England World Cup call-up. Bent didn't find himself on a plane to South Africa, but soon after, he was travelling to Birmingham for shock talks with Aston Villa and a fee of up to £24 million was suddenly agreed between the clubs. The most heartbreaking moments came during Bent's introductory press conference at Villa, where he didn't acknowledge Sunderland or its fans who had been unanimously supportive of him. The effects of not replacing him are still affecting the club today, and the unforgivable move is still remembered by the fans. He could have been a legend, but he opted for money, and his career fell apart.
What Culture contributor. NCTJ accredited Sports Journalist. Regret-filled Sunderland AFC season ticket holder. Optimism-filled NFL fan. Lover of all things Game Of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Walking Dead & more.
