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Cape Town - Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has revealed that the club feared fans would burn the stadium down if he joined the off-season exodus.
The Saints were lambasted for selling Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers during the transfer window, while the Frenchman was also keen to leave St Mary's.
However, the club stood their ground and refused to sell, despite Schneiderlin's anger at the situation.
The 24-year-old has now settled into a new-look Southampton side, which has hit the ground running and currently sit third in the Premier League standings.
"I told them I signed for a project that was supposed to keep the best elements to go higher," he told France Football.
"And before that meeting, Lallana, Lovren, Lambert, Luke Shaw and Chambers all left. I asked myself: 'That is not the same situation anymore, that is not possible. What are they doing?'
"At that moment, Southampton didn't hire anyone yet. Chambers signed at Arsenal the day before our meeting.
"And the club started to see the fans were getting mad. They thought: 'If Morgan will leave, the stadium will be burnt'.
"So they guaranteed us: 'Morgan is not for sale. We won't listen to anything. Morgan will stay. That is the project. There is nothing more to say'.
"It was a real shock to me. I thought: 'Why do they block me while I gave my very best and experienced everything with that club.'
"Of course, I was angry."
The Saints were lambasted for selling Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers during the transfer window, while the Frenchman was also keen to leave St Mary's.
However, the club stood their ground and refused to sell, despite Schneiderlin's anger at the situation.
The 24-year-old has now settled into a new-look Southampton side, which has hit the ground running and currently sit third in the Premier League standings.
"I told them I signed for a project that was supposed to keep the best elements to go higher," he told France Football.
"And before that meeting, Lallana, Lovren, Lambert, Luke Shaw and Chambers all left. I asked myself: 'That is not the same situation anymore, that is not possible. What are they doing?'
"At that moment, Southampton didn't hire anyone yet. Chambers signed at Arsenal the day before our meeting.
"And the club started to see the fans were getting mad. They thought: 'If Morgan will leave, the stadium will be burnt'.
"So they guaranteed us: 'Morgan is not for sale. We won't listen to anything. Morgan will stay. That is the project. There is nothing more to say'.
"It was a real shock to me. I thought: 'Why do they block me while I gave my very best and experienced everything with that club.'
"Of course, I was angry."
